Advances in burn wound care.

The development of effective topical chemotherapy, the reintroduction of burn wound excision, and the use of biologic dressings have significantly decreased the incidence of invasive burn wound infection and have contributed to the improvement in the survival that has occurred over the past four decades. The currently available skin substitutes are imperfect, and research endeavors continue in the effort to develop a nonantigenic disease-free, readily available, physiologically effective tissue that will promptly effect wound closure, reduce scar formation and thereby improve cosmetic results, and reduce the need for reconstructive surgery. As monitoring and physiologic support techniques improve and additional advances in wound care occur, the morbidity and mortality of burn patients will be further reduced.