TBSA and length of stay impact quality of life following burn injury.

INTRODUCTION: Burn injuries create physiologic, physical, and emotional effects acutely and long-lasting. Recovery is extensive and requires long-term care. Impaired function related to pain, deconditioning, weakness, and contracture formation are common. We sought to determine factors that impact quality of life (QOL) post recovery. Specifically, to assess whether Health Related QOL (HRQOL) decreases with increasing percent total body surface area (TBSA) and length of stay (LOS). We also explored QOL as a function of burn mechanism. METHODS: Patients >18 years of age with >9.5% TBSA between 1 and 6 years post-burn injury were contacted by mail and asked if they were willing to participate. Those who agreed responded by returning their completed Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). Medical records were accessed to determine demographic and treatment information. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between total QOL (total score of BSHS-B) and LOS and TBSA. All domains were negatively correlated with increasing LOS and TBSA. LOS was most strongly correlated with decreasing work function and social function. There were no differences in QOL between burn mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: QOL is greatly impacted by TBSA and LOS.More attention to body image and returning to work should be given, regardless of the type of burn mechanism.

Outcomes in Burn-Injured Patients Who Develop Sepsis.

This study examines health outcomes in burn patients with sepsis. We hypothesized that burn patients with sepsis would have an increased odds risk for in-hospital death and longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays. This was a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients admitted to the burn ICU with total BSA (TBSA) ≥10% and/or inhalation injury between January 2008 and March 2015. Overall 407 burn patients were included; the case-rate for sepsis was 39.1% (n = 159); 20.1% (n = 82) patients were septic and 18.9% (n = 77) patients experienced septic shock. Patients with septic shock had the highest mortality rate (13.31% no sepsis vs 3.7% sepsis vs 49.4% septic shock, P < .01). Median 28-day ICU-free days was higher in patients without sepsis (23 days [Interquartile range (IQR) 14-27] no sepsis vs 0 days [IQR 0-10] sepsis vs 0 days [IQR 0-0] septic shock, P < .01). Sepsis (with or without shock) increased odds of in-hospital death (odds ratio 7.04, 95% confidence interval 1.93-25.7) in reference to the no sepsis group. With each incremental Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score or 10% TBSA increase, the odds risk for in-hospital death increased by 56 and 75%, respectively. Our study characterized outcomes in patients with sepsis after severe burn injury. The odds risk for in-hospital death was greater in patients with sepsis, increasing burn severity according to TBSA and SOFA score.

Opioid creep in burn center discharge regimens: Doubled amounts and complexity of narcotic prescriptions over seven years.

Prescription opioid misuse is an epidemic international health crisis. Although burn providers are increasingly mindful of balancing pain relief with risk of opioid dependence, several burn centers have noticed their patients are still receiving an increased amount of opioids, termed "opioid creep." We examined discharge narcotic prescriptions at a single burn center in the Midwest United States and found that patients discharged in 2015 received nearly twice the amount of narcotics (mean=600 morphine equivalents [ME]) than those discharged in 2008 (mean=350 ME), with a significantly increased likelihood of a more complex narcotic discharge regimen. The increase in ME remained significant even after controlling for age, burn size, intensive care unit stay, discharge day, substance abuse, comorbidity status, insurance, language, race, and ethnicity. The data do not clearly explain such a significant increase. Although such increase in opioid prescription is undesirable, so too is regression to historical under-treatment of burn pain. Protocoled pain-management order sets on admission and discharge, as well as incorporation of alternatives adjuncts to lessen pain, may allow for better pain control with less opioid misuse.

Renal Replacement Therapy in Severe Burns: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after severe burns is historically associated with a high mortality. Over the past two decades, various modes of renal replacement therapy (RRT) have been used in this population. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate demographic, treatment, and outcomes data among severe burn patients treated with RRT collectively at various burn centers around the United States. After institutional review board approval, a multicenter observational study was conducted. All adult patients aged 18 or older, admitted with severe burns who were placed on RRT for acute indications but not randomized into a concurrently enrolling interventional trial, were included. Across eight participating burn centers, 171 subjects were enrolled during a 4-year period. Complete data were available in 170 subjects with a mean age of 51 ± 17, percent total body surface area burn of 38 ± 26% and injury severity score of 27 ± 21. Eighty percent of subjects were male and 34% were diagnosed with smoke inhalation injury. The preferred mode of therapy was continuous venovenous hemofiltration at a mean delivered dose of 37 ± 19 (ml/kg/hour) and a treatment duration of 13 ± 24 days. Overall, in hospital, mortality was 50%. Among survivors, 21% required RRT on discharge from the hospital while 9% continued to require RRT 6 months after discharge. This is the first multicenter cohort of burn patients who underwent RRT reported to date. Overall mortality is comparable to other critically ill populations who undergo RRT. Most patients who survive to discharge eventually recover renal function.

Terminal Maturation of Orthochromatic Erythroblasts Is Impaired in Burn Patients.

Mechanisms of erythropoietin (Epo)-resistant anemia in burn patients are poorly understood. We have recently found that administering a nonselective beta 1,2-adrenergic blocker propranolol (PR) was effective in reversing myelo-erythroid commitment through MafB regulation and increase megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitors in burn patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived ex vivo culture system. Having known that Epo-dependent proliferation of early erythroblasts is intact after burn injury, here we inquired whether or not Epo-independent maturation stage of erythropoiesis is affected by burn injury and the relative role of PR on late-stage erythropoiesis. While majority of erythropoiesis occurs in the bone marrow, maturation into reticulocytes is crucial for their release into sinusoids to occupy the peripheral circulation for which enucleation is vital. peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from burn patients were extended beyond commitment and proliferation stages to late maturation stage in ex vivo culture to understand the role of PR in burn patients. Burn impedes late maturation of orthochromatic erythroblasts into reticulocytes by restricting the enucleation step. Late-stage erythropoiesis is impaired in burn patients irrespective of PR treatment. Further, substituting the microenvironment with control plasma (homologous) in place of autologous plasma rescues the conversion of orthochromatic erythroblasts to reticulocytes. Results show promise in formulating interventions to regulate late-stage erythropoiesis, which can be used in combination with PR to reduce the number of transfusions.

High-volume hemofiltration in adult burn patients with septic shock and acute kidney injury: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis and septic shock occur commonly in severe burns. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is also common and often results as a consequence of sepsis. Mortality is unacceptably high in burn patients who develop AKI requiring renal replacement therapy and is presumed to be even higher when combined with septic shock. We hypothesized that high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) as a blood purification technique would be beneficial in this population. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the impact of HVHF on the hemodynamic profile of burn patients with septic shock and AKI involving seven burn centers in the United States. Subjects randomized to the HVHF were prescribed a dose of 70 ml/kg/hour for 48 hours while control subjects were managed in standard fashion in accordance with local practices. RESULTS: During a 4-year period, a total of nine subjects were enrolled for the intervention during the ramp-in phase and 28 subjects were randomized, 14 each into the control and HVHF arms respectively. The study was terminated due to slow enrollment. Ramp-in subjects were included along with those randomized in the final analysis. Our primary endpoint, the vasopressor dependency index, decreased significantly at 48 hours compared to baseline in the HVHF group (p = 0.007) while it remained no different in the control arm. At 14 days, the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome score decreased significantly in the HVHF group when compared to the day of treatment initiation (p = 0.02). No changes in inflammatory markers were detected during the 48-hour intervention period. No significant difference in survival was detected. No differences in adverse events were noted between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: HVHF was effective in reversing shock and improving organ function in burn patients with septic shock and AKI, and appears safe. Whether reversal of shock in these patients can improve survival is yet to be determined. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01213914 . Registered 30 September 2010.

The Contributing Risk of Tobacco Use for ARDS Development in Burn-Injured Adults With Inhalation Injury.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the relationship between tobacco use, inhalation injury, and ARDS in burn-injured adults. METHODS: This study was an observational cohort of 2,485 primary burn admissions to a referral burn center between January 1, 2008 and March 15, 2015. Subjects were evaluated by methods used to account for mediation and traditional approaches (multivariable logistic regression and propensity score analysis). Mediation analysis examined both the (1) indirect effect of tobacco use via inhalation injury as the mediator on ARDS development and (2) the direct effect of tobacco use alone on ARDS development. RESULTS: ARDS development occurred in 6.8% (n = 170) of the cohort. Inhalation injury occurred in 5.0% (n = 125) of the cohort, and ARDS developed in 48.8% (n = 83) of the subjects with inhalation injury. Tobacco use was 2-fold more common in subjects with ARDS. In the mediated model, the direct effect of tobacco use on ARDS, including interaction between tobacco use and inhalation injury, was not significant (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, 95% CI 0.91-2.92, P = .10). However, the indirect effect of tobacco use via inhalation injury as the mediator was significant (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.07, P < .001), and the proportion of the total effect of tobacco use operating through the mediator was 55.6%. In the non-mediation models (multivariable logistic regression and propensity score analysis), which controlled for inhalation injury and other covariables, the OR for the association between tobacco use and ARDS was 1.84 (95% CI 1.22-2.81, P < .001) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.04-2.75, P = .03), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In mediation analysis, inhalation injury was the overwhelming predictor for ARDS development, whereas tobacco use has its strongest effect indirectly through inhalation injury. Patients with at least moderate inhalation injury are at greatest risk for ARDS development despite baseline risk factors like tobacco use.

Discrete ß-adrenergic mechanisms regulate early and late erythropoiesis in erythropoietin-resistant anemia.

BACKGROUND: Anemia of critical illness is resistant to exogenous erythropoietin. Packed red blood cells transfusions is the only treatment option, and despite related cost and morbidity, there is a need for alternate strategies. Erythrocyte development can be divided into erythropoietin-dependent and erythropoietin-independent stages. We have shown previously that erythropoietin-dependent development is intact in burn patients and the erythropoietin-independent early commitment stage, which is regulated by ß1/ß2-adrenergic mechanisms, is compromised. Utilizing the scald burn injury model, we studied erythropoietin-independent late maturation stages and the effect of ß1/ß2, ß-2, or ß-3 blockade in burn mediated erythropoietin-resistant anemia. METHODS: Burn mice were randomized to receive daily injections of propranolol (nonselective ß1/ß2 antagonist), nadolol (long-acting ß1/ß2 antagonist), butoxamine (selective ß2 antagonist), or SR59230A (selective ß3 antagonist) for 6 days after burn. Total bone marrow cells were characterized as nonerythroid cells, early and late erythroblasts, nucleated orthochromatic erythroblasts and enucleated reticulocyte subsets using CD71, Ter119, and Syto-16 by flow cytometry. Multipotential progenitors were probed for MafB expressing cells. RESULTS: Although propranolol improved early and late erythroblasts, only butoxamine and selective ß3-antagonist administrations were positively reflected in the peripheral blood hemoglobin and red blood cells count. While burn impeded early commitment and late maturation stages, ß1/ß2 antagonism increased the early erythroblasts through commitment stages via ß2 specific MafB regulation. ß3 antagonism was more effective in improving overall red blood cells through late maturation stages. CONCLUSION: The study unfolds novel ß2 and ß3 adrenergic mechanisms orchestrating erythropoietin resistant anemia after burn, which impedes both the early commitment stage and the late maturation stages, respectively.

Improving Nutritional Support of Burn Service Patients by Increasing the Number of Days When 100% of Prescribed Formula Is Given.

The authors sought to increase the number of days when burn service patients receive 100% of prescribed enteral nutrition. The authors first performed a retrospective review of 37 patients (group 1) receiving enteral nutrition. The authors then created and implemented a nurse-directed feeding algorithm, placing patients into three age groups addressing maximum hourly infusion rates, high residual limits, initiating feeding, refeeding residuals, and replacing formula. The authors then performed a prospective review of 37 patients (group 2) fed utilizing the new algorithm. The amount of prescribed, infused, discarded, and missed feeds were recorded, as well as admitting diagnosis, age, gender, length of stay, ventilator days, infections, and mortality. All patients in group 1 (n = 37) received 100% of feeds 59.9% of prescribed days vs 76.5% in group 2 (n = 37; P = .003). Burn patients in group 1 (n = 26) received 100% of feeds 61.6% of prescribed days vs 85.4% in group 2 (n = 21; P < .001). The mean amount of hours tube feeds were held for surgery, procedures, clogged or dislodged tubes, in both historical control and the group using the restorative algorithm were the same. While there was a significant difference in burn size between groups (6.24 vs 18.39%, P = .01), there were no statistically significant differences in length of stay, ventilator days, or mortality. Implementation of a nurse-directed feeding algorithm improved delivery of enteral nutrition for all burn service patients, increasing the number of days when 100% of prescribed enteral nutrition is given.

Comparison of Automated Methods Versus the American Burn Association Sepsis Definition to Identify Sepsis and Sepsis With Organ Dysfunction/Septic Shock in Burn-Injured Adults.

To develop an algorithm to identify sepsis and sepsis with organ dysfunction/septic shock in burn-injured patients incorporating criteria from the American Burn Association sepsis definition that possesses good test characteristics compared with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-9) codes and an algorithm previously validated in nonburn-injured septic patients (Martin et al method). This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to the burn intensive care unit between January 2008 and March 2015. Of the 4761 admitted, 8.6% (n = 407) met inclusion criteria, of which the case rate for sepsis was 34.2% (n = 139; n = 48 sepsis; n = 91 sepsis with organ dysfunction/septic shock). For sepsis identification, the novel algorithm had an accuracy of 86.0% (95% CI: 82.2-89.2%), sensitivity of 66.9% (95% CI: 59.1-74.7%), and specificity of 95.9% (95% CI: 93.5-98.3%). The novel algorithm had better discrimination (0.81, 95% CI: 0.77-0.86) than the ICD-9 method (0.77, 95% CI: 0.73-0.81), although this was not significant (P = .08). For sepsis with organ dysfunction/septic shock, the novel algorithm plus vasopressors (0.67, 95% CI: 0.63-0.72) and the ICD-9 method (0.63, 95% CI: 0.58-0.68) performed equivocal (P = 0.15) but the Martin method (0.76, 95% CI: 0.71-0.81) had superior discrimination than other methods (P < .01). The novel algorithm is an accurate and simple tool to identify sepsis in the burn cohort with good sensitivity and specificity and equivocal discriminative ability to ICD-9 coding. The Martin method had superior discriminative ability for identifying sepsis with organ dysfunction/septic shock in burn-injured patients than either the novel algorithm plus vasopressors or ICD-9 coding.

Physiologic Response to HIPEC: Sifting Through Perturbation to Identify Markers of Complications.

CONTEXT: The postoperative physiologic response to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been poorly studied outside of the immediate perioperative time. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the physiologic response during the first 5 days after HIPEC and identify variables associated with major complications. METHODS: Patients undergoing HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery during a 14-month interval were retrospectively identified and their records reviewed for demographics, physiologic response, and major complications. Vital signs and laboratory results were recorded before the operation, immediately after the procedure, and for the first 5 postoperative days. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included. The mean body temperature and heart rate were elevated on postoperative day 1 compared with baseline (preoperative) status (37.1°C vs 36.6°C and 103 vs 78 beats/min, respectively) and remained elevated through postoperative day 5. The mean arterial pressure was lower on postoperative day 1 (73 mm Hg) but returned to baseline on postoperative day 3 (93 mm Hg). Mean creatinine level increased on postoperative day 1 (0.96 mg/dL) but returned to baseline on postoperative day 2 (0.87 mg/dL). Fourteen patients (42%) had major complications. The strongest predictors of major complications were a prolonged operative time (519 vs 403 minutes) and extreme changes in body temperature and renal function. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy results in a hypermetabolic response that partially returns to baseline around postoperative day 3. Elevated body temperature and impaired renal function are the best predictors of major complications.

Multiple-Drug Resistance in Burn Patients: A Retrospective Study on the Impact of Antibiotic Resistance on Survival and Length of Stay.

Despite improvements in early treatment, survival following burn injury remains challenged by sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Additionally, susceptibility to infections and growing antibiotic resistance places burn patients at increased risk for infections with multiple-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). We therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of MDRO infections on survival and hospital length of stay, as well as examine the role of these organisms in the development of complications, such as acute kidney injury, sepsis, and MODS. To study this, we included all burn patients with infections, admitted between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with infections caused by MDROs and patients with infections caused by susceptible organisms. Data were collected on all available cultures, as well as demographic, injury, and treatment-related variables from the medical record. The number of operative procedures (median: 2 vs 1, P < .0001), ventilator days (21 vs 0 days, P < .0001), total antibiotic days (21 vs 7days, P < .0001), and length of hospitalization (39 vs 14 days, P < .0001) were significantly different in the MDRO group vs the nonresistant group. While MDRO infection was not associated with patient mortality, univariable logistic regression analyses demonstrated >20% TBSA (odds ratio [OR] = 4.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-16.29, P = .03), acute kidney injury (OR = 10.93, 95% CI: 2.74-43.57, P = .001), sepsis (OR = 19.20, 95% CI: 3.79-97.27, P < .001), and MODS (OR = 85.49, 95% CI: 12.97-563.28, P < .0001) significantly increased the odds of patient mortality. These findings suggest that infections with MDROs are associated with a greater number of surgical procedures, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, more antibiotic days, and longer hospitalization.

Quantitative Analysis of Estimated Burn Size Accuracy for Transfer Patients.

The objective of this study was to quantify differences between estimated TBSA from referring hospitals vs calculated TBSA in the burn unit in regards to several variables. We conducted a retrospective review of 735 burn patients admitted over a 17-month period. Three hundred twenty-six patients fit the criteria of transfers with recorded %TBSA estimations from referring hospitals. Referring %TBSA was compared with actual %TBSA, and the difference was expressed as a percentage of actual %TBSA. This was then used to group referring estimations as underestimated (less than -25%), satisfactory (-25 to 25%), or overestimated (greater than 25%). A paired t-test was used to assess the paired differences for significance. Secondary variables were then assessed between groups. When assessing associations of these clinical measures, a one-way analysis of variance was used for continuous variables and Pearson's χ test or Fisher's exact test was used. Of the 326 patients analyzed, 13 were underestimated, 63 were satisfactory, and 250 were overestimated. The ratio of overestimation to underestimation exceeded 19:1 and the ratio of overestimation to satisfactory estimation was nearly 4:1, with a statistically significant difference in referred %TBSA and actual %TBSA (P < .0001). Within the over and underestimated groups, there were significant differences between referred %TBSA and actual %TBSA (P < .0001). Larger burns were more accurately estimated (P < .0001). There are significant inaccuracies between referring hospital estimated %TBSA and actual %TBSA, which consistently and grossly skew toward overestimation. Inaccuracy in burn size estimation is systemic and can affect patient care and burn unit efficiency.

Burn Shock and Resuscitation: Proceedings of a Symposium Conducted at the Meeting of the American Burn Association, Chicago, IL, 21 April 2015.

The Special Interest Groups of the American Burn Association provide a forum for interested members of the multidisciplinary burn team to congregate and discuss matters of mutual interest. At the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association in Chicago, IL, the Fluid Resuscitation Special Interest Group sponsored a special symposium on burn resuscitation. The purpose of the symposium was to review the history, current status, and future direction of fluid resuscitation of patients with burn shock. The reader will note several themes running through the following presentations. One is the perennial question of the proper role for albumin or other fluid-sparing strategies. Another is the unique characteristics of the pediatric burn patient. A third is the need for multicenter trials of burn resuscitation, while recognizing the obstacles to conducting randomized controlled trials in this setting.

Myelo-erythroid commitment after burn injury is under ß-adrenergic control via MafB regulation.

Severely injured burn patients receive multiple blood transfusions for anemia of critical illness despite the adverse consequences. One limiting factor to consider alternate treatment strategies is the lack of a reliable test platform to study molecular mechanisms of impaired erythropoiesis. This study illustrates how conditions resulting in a high catecholamine microenvironment such as burns can instigate myelo-erythroid reprioritization influenced by ß-adrenergic stimulation leading to anemia. In a mouse model of scald burn injury, we observed, along with a threefold increase in bone marrow LSK cells (linneg Sca1+cKit+), that the myeloid shift is accompanied with a significant reduction in megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs). ß-Blocker administration (propranolol) for 6 days after burn, not only reduced the number of LSKs and MafB+ cells in multipotent progenitors, but also influenced myelo-erythroid bifurcation by increasing the MEPs and reducing the granulocyte monocyte progenitors in the bone marrow of burn mice. Furthermore, similar results were observed in burn patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived ex vivo culture system, demonstrating that commitment stage of erythropoiesis is impaired in burn patients and intervention with propranolol (nonselective ß1,2-adrenergic blocker) increases MEPs. Also, MafB+ cells that were significantly increased following standard burn care could be mitigated when propranolol was administered to burn patients, establishing the mechanistic regulation of erythroid commitment by myeloid regulatory transcription factor MafB. Overall, results demonstrate that ß-adrenergic blockers following burn injury can redirect the hematopoietic commitment toward erythroid lineage by lowering MafB expression in multipotent progenitors and be of potential therapeutic value to increase erythropoietin responsiveness in burn patients.

Acute Kidney Injury in Burn Patients: Clinically Significant Over the Initial Hospitalization and 1 Year After Injury: An Original Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) after burn injury as an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality over initial hospitalization and 1-year follow-up. BACKGROUND: Variability in fluid resuscitation and difficulty recognizing early sepsis are major barriers to preventing AKI after burn injury. Expanding our understanding of the burden AKI has on the clinical course of burn patients would highlight the need for standardized protocols. METHODS: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases in the states of Florida and New York during the years 2009 to 2013 for patients over age 18 hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of burn injury using ICD-9 codes. We identified and grouped 18,155 patients, including 1476 with burns >20% total body surface area, by presence of AKI. Outcomes were compared in these cohorts via univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: During initial hospitalization, AKI was associated with increased pulmonary failure, mechanical ventilation, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, length of stay, cost, and mortality, and also a lower likelihood of being discharged home. One year after injury, AKI was associated with development of chronic kidney disease, conversion to chronic dialysis, hospital readmission, and long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: AKI is associated with a profound and severe increase in morbidity and mortality in burn patients during initial hospitalization and up to 1 year after injury. Consensus protocols for initial burn resuscitation and early sepsis recognition and treatment are crucial to avoid the consequences of AKI after burn injury.

The Effect of Socioeconomic Status and Parental Demographics on Activation of Department of Child and Family Services in Pediatric Burn Injury.

Burns resulting from child maltreatment are tragic causes of significant morbidity and mortality, most commonly affecting children under 3 years of age. More than one third of nonaccidental burns occur in single-parent homes or have parents with history of mental illness, substance abuse, incarceration, or Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) involvement. The authors sought to profile pediatric burn injuries associated with DCFS investigations. They performed a retrospective chart review of pediatric burn patients, admitted between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014. They analyzed patient and household demographics, family composition, employment, zip code, insurance, etiology, percent TBSA burned, surgical interventions, length of hospital stay, disposition, prior DCFS involvement, and DCFS investigation outcomes. There were 126 DCFS investigations involving patients with average age of 2.6 ± 3.2 years and 5 ± 5.6% TBSA burn. Scalds were the most prevalent etiology at 76%. Parents involved with DCFS were 5 years younger than those without DCFS. Factors associated with increased odds of DCFS investigation were non-Caucasian race, single-parent homes, unemployed primary caretaker, Medicaid utilization, and prior DCFS involvement. A majority of DCFS investigations were initiated at outside hospitals, and they found one third to be substantiated cases of abuse. Non-Caucasian children, under 3 years of age, from lower socioeconomic or single-parent homes, are associated with higher rates of DCFS investigations. The majority of DCFS investigations were unsubstantiated and there were no significant epidemiological differences between unsubstantiated and substantiated cases of abuse. Improved understanding of sociodemographic risk factors for children at higher risk for negligence or intentional abuse warrants focused public health programs on regional prevention and education.

Predicting Mechanical Ventilation and Mortality: Early and Late Indicators in Steven-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are characterized by loss of the epidermis, often accompanied by sloughing of the oral mucosa and airway, which may be associated with the need for mechanical ventilation. We retrospectively examined our SJS and TEN population for factors predictive of the need for mechanical ventilation and mortality. Over more than a 7-year period, 74 subjects of ≥18 years old with biopsy-confirmed SJS-TEN were identified. Variables within the first 3 days of admission and throughout the entire hospital stay were analyzed for their value in predicting the need for mechanical ventilation and mortality. Predictive variables were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Of our 74 subjects, 28 (37.8%) required mechanical ventilation and 11 (13.9%) died, all of whom were intubated. Patients requiring ventilation had a significantly higher %TBSA loss of epidermis on admission and progressive epidermal loss after admission. On multivariate analysis, acute kidney injury within the first 3 days of admission and fewer days from symptom onset to admission were statistically significant in predicting need for mechanical ventilation. In addition, the early need for mechanical ventilation, early serum bicarbonate <20 mm/L, and older age were all associated with higher mortality on multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the need for mechanical ventilation in adult TEN subjects is associated with higher mortality. This is the first time that mechanical ventilation has been specifically examined in the recent U.S. SJS and TEN population. The early recognition of patients at risk for ventilation may help guide management, especially in those patients admitted early after symptom development with acute kidney injury and extensive, progressing epidermal loss.

Not All Drugs Are Created Equal: The Importance of Causative Agent in Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Steven-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and SJS/TEN overlap make up a spectrum of severe mucocutaneous disease that is an adverse reaction to a large number of medications and various infectious agents. Little is known about the differences in acute course of illness depending on the inciting agent, which prompted the authors to further explore their experience with TEN. In a retrospective analysis, 88 patients ≥18 years old were identified with biopsy-confirmed TEN and a variety of variables were analyzed. The authors evaluated for differences in presentation and hospital course between drug class and medication half-life using Kruskal-Wallis for continuous variables and χ or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Those subjects with the inciting agent of allopurinol had 100% incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), significantly higher than other drug classes with antibiotics having the second highest incidence at 14%. Medications with a half-life of <6 hours were also associated with a higher incidence of AKI. Acutely there are significant clinical differences in TEN patients depending on the drug class and medication half-life of the inciting agent. Allopurinol, drugs with a short half-life, and a diagnosis of TEN were all associated with greater incidence of AKI. This is the first time that the relationship between clinical course and inciting agent has been examined in a United States population.