Herpesvirus Infection in Burned Patients

Viral infections and wounds

“…Viral burn wound infections have been reported to be very rare (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). As with surgical wounds, thermal injuries destroy the barrier function of skin, enabling the passage of viruses (18).…”

“…Studies in pediatric burn patients have demonstrated the concurrent presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) (18,23), HSV (18,23), adenovirus (23) and varicella (13). Viral infection usually manifests itself by small vesicles in re-epithelializing second-degree burns and split thickness skin graft donor sites followed by a loss of superficial epithelium.…”

“…Viral infection usually manifests itself by small vesicles in re-epithelializing second-degree burns and split thickness skin graft donor sites followed by a loss of superficial epithelium. It was hypothesized that the susceptibility of such reepithelializing areas to lesions characteristic of viral infection may be due to the presence of nucleoprotein moieties produced by regenerating epidermal cells that could potentially be used for viral replication (13). Alternatively, the presence of lesions in and around the wound may be due to a thin, readily inoculated integument (13).…”

“…It was hypothesized that the susceptibility of such reepithelializing areas to lesions characteristic of viral infection may be due to the presence of nucleoprotein moieties produced by regenerating epidermal cells that could potentially be used for viral replication (13). Alternatively, the presence of lesions in and around the wound may be due to a thin, readily inoculated integument (13). Secondary bacterial infection has been reported to occur two to three days after clinical manifestations of viral infection (18).…”

“…Nonetheless, viremia has been reported to occur (13). As yet, significant problems with viruses have not been encountered (or identified) in surgical or burn patients; however, further investigation is required (25).…”