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.