Background: Infection is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. Clinical diagnosis of bacteremia and/or sepsis in burn patients is difficult for a number of reasons. It could be symptomatic and/or asymptomatic as a result of immune deficiency secondary to thermal injury.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital Burn Unit Associated with Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Fifty burn patients were investigated for bacterial profile of burn wound infections. Specimens were collected on 3rd and 7th day of burns in the form of wound swabs. The organisms were isolated and identified by standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby -Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Gram negative organisms were found to be more prevalent. The most common isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) -38%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) -35%, Klebsiella spp.-8%, Acinetobacter spp -5%, Staphylococcus epidermidis - 5%, Proteus spp. -3% and Escherichia coli -1%.Conclusions: Pseudomonas was the commonest cause of infection in fire burn patients in our setting followed by S. aureus. About 82% of the isolates showed multiple resistances. In light of our findings, regular antibiotic resistance test has to be done for each patient in order to select an appropriate antimicrobial agent.

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This study demonstrates that walking distance is an accurate and accessible method of determining surgical outcomes.

Background:Perioperative blood loss and postoperative pain following total knee arthroplasty prevent early mobilisation of patients. The Enhanced Recovery Protocol (ERP) followed for patients in our institute aims at reducing post operative pain, blood loss and length of stay.Materials and Methods:50 consecutive patients that underwent ERP following total knee arthroplasty with another group of 70 patients that underwent the same surgery without ERP were compared in terms of hidden blood loss and length of hospital stay. Hidden blood loss was calculated according to previously described method.Results:Reduction in blood loss was found in both males (305 ml) and females (150 ml) following ERP. Length of stay reduced by 1.5 days in both genders. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between body weight and blood loss in females.Conclusion:Enhanced recovery protocol could be a useful tool to reduce patient morbidity and reduce length of inpatient stay.

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