Efficacy of Topical Application of 1% Acetic Acid in Eradicating Pseudomonal Infections in Burn Wounds

Objective: Determine the efficacy o f topically applied 1% acetic acid in burn wounds in eradication ofPseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Study Design: Retrospective observational study.Place: Department of Burns, Civil Hospital, Karachi Duration of Study: Study was undertaken from January 2006 to December, 2009.Patients and Methods: The study included all adult burn patients, aged between 21 to 40 years, o f eithergender who had culture reports showing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Patients belonged to urban and rural areas,had TBSA (Total body surface area) burnt between 15-35%. All these patients received application o f 1% aceticacid for 10-14 days. Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was cleared from 65 (90%) out o f 72 cases and wound was freeofPseudomonas aeruginosa infection in 10-14 days. Conclusions: 1% acetic acid is very effective in treating the Pseudomonas Aeruginosa infection in burn patients.In this study on burn patients between 15-35% TBSA, 1% acetic acid was very effective in eradicatingPseudomonas A eruginosa infection in 90% o f the patients.