Fungal colonization of burn wound in patients admitted to the Burn Center of Zare Hospital, Sari, 2011-2012

Back ground: Despite major advances in the care of burned patients, infection remains an important cause of morbidity and death. Since the introduction of effective topical therapy against bacterial pathogens in the 1970s, fungal infections have become increasingly prevalent among burns patients. The incidence of fungal infection is reported to vary between 6 and 44% of all burns admissions. We performed this study to determine incidence of fungal colonization and to identify the fungal isolates in burn wound of the patients admitted to the burn center of Zare Hospital, Sari, 2011-2012.Material and Method: In a cross-sectional study from June 2011 to March 2012, the 7 day post burn wound with sign of infection was included. Specimens for fungal culture were collected using swab from the sub-eschar infiltrations. In some burn patients, sub-eschar tissue biopsies were taken for culture. The isolated fungi identified to the species level by conventional procedure and PCR-sequencing.Results: Out of 136 patients who were admitted during the study period, 88 patients were clinically suspected to have fungal colonization in their burn wound. Two hundred thirty one sample were taken from these suspected burn wound. On investigation, 84 samples (36.4%) which taken from 47 patients revealed fungal colonization. The most predominant fungal isolated was Candida mostly Candida non albicans species. A multiple-species co-infections due to Candida spp., Fusarium spp. and Zygomycete revealed from wound of a burn patient.Conclusion: Fungal colonization of burn wound is not uncommon. Fungal colonization is an important marker in management of fungal sepsis in burn patients and should be considered in every burn wound. Candida non albicans specie was the most predominant fungal species colonized in burn wound.