Epidemiological Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Pathogens Associated With Burn Wound Infection in Inpatients at a Tertiary Hospital in Northwest China

Objectives Community‐acquired or healthcare‐associated burn wound infections are common in burn patients. Burn wound infection is the primary factor contributing to morbidity and mortality in burn patients. This research investigated the epidemiological features of burn patients with wound infections in northwest China. Methods The clinical features of all eligible patients hospitalized in burn units from 2020 to 2023 at a tertiary hospital in northwest China were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 562 burn patients were hospitalized, of whom 99 (17.62%) developed burn wound infections. Independent risk factors for community‐acquired infections included wound depth (odds ratio [OR] = 3.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50–6.23, p = 0.003) and delayed hospitalization beyond 3 days postburn (OR = 127.48, 95% CI: 17.14–948.45, p < 0.001). For nosocomial infections, independent risk factors were wound depth (OR = 5.78, 95% CI: 2.70–12.36, p < 0.001), torso injury (OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.77–7.53, p < 0.001), combined trauma (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.16–12.41, p = 0.027), and inhalation injury (OR = 14.40, 95% CI: 3.90–53.07, p < 0.001). Among isolates, 21.01% of S. aureus were methicillin‐resistant, while E. coli showed resistance to 3rd‐generation cephalosporins (66.67%) and fluoroquinolones (75.00%). Conclusions Tailored infection control and prevention strategies should be developed to address the specific needs of high‐risk populations.