Analysis of Blood Cultures from Major Burns Patients in a Tertiary Care Burn Unit in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to review the blood stream infections of major burn patients in a tertiary care burn unit to determine the most prevalent infecting organisms in order to have a better empirical therapy protocol. Methods: This retrospective study analysed the blood stream infection of 155 major burn (>20% Total Body Surface Area [TBSA]) patients in Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman between January 2014 to December 2019. Results: The median age was 33 years and 57.42% of patients were male. The median TBSA was 38%, mortality was 25.16% and 50.9% of patients had positive blood cultures. The expired patients had higher TBSAs, Abbreviated Burns Severity Index scores and earlier first positive blood cultures. Candida was commonly grown in all the blood cultures, but the most prevalent organisms were Acinetobacter, Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas. All Acinetobacter species are multidrug resistant. Of the 17 patients who had Kelbsiella grown in the blood culture, 8 grew multidrug-resistant Klebsiella. Only 4 patients' blood cultures grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The number of blood culture samples taken ranged between 1-28 (median = 6). The first positive blood culture showed that Staphylococcus epidermidis and Acinetobacter were the most common infecting organisms. Conclusions: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter was the most predominant microorganism grown from the blood cultures of major burn patients in a tertiary care burn unit. Empirical therapy should include antibiotics that are effective against this organism to reduce the mortality.

Prevalence and characteristics of microtia in Oman: 37 Years analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of microtia varies in different parts of the world and between ethnic groups. This article reviews the prevalence of Microtia in Oman. METHODS: A retrospective study of all cases of Microtia between the period from January 1988 to March 2020. RESULTS: 152 patients fulfilled the study criteria. The prevalence of microtia was 0.83 per 10,000 births. Analysis of the affected cases showed 56% males and 44% females. 66% of the cases were of the lobular type, and 30% were of the conchal type. Anotia cases were only 4%. Unilateral cases were predominant consisting 86% of the cases, of which 67% were on the right side. 70% of the cases had hearing problems and 35% of them required hearing aids. 14% were syndromic. Goldenhar and Treacher-Collins syndromes were the most common syndromes. Family history was present in 18% of the cases. 49% of them had parents' consanguinity. CONCLUSION: Omani population has low prevalence of microtia but the characteristics does not differ from other reports.