Infection control for the burn patient.

Infection control in the burn patient is dependent on the aseptic management of the wound and the environment of the patient, knowledgeable use of topical antibacterial agents, aggressive wound management, judicious use of systemic antibiotics, support of the deficient host defense system, maintenance of adequate nutrition, and close monitoring of laboratory and clinical signs of impending sepsis. With these key factors in mind, the nurses and physicians who care for burn patients can reduce the number of septic episodes as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis in the burn patient.