Browsing by Author "Elif Unlu"

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    Infectious Features of Burn Wounds and Their Influence on the Course of Clinical Outcomes in Burn Victims
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2023-06) Ayse Ebru Abali; Cem Aydogan; Burak Ozkan; Elif Unlu; Mehmet Haberal
    ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the interactions between infectious features of burn wounds and in-hospital clinical outcomes among patients treated at our burn center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study group included 192 inpatients seen from 2020 to 2023. We collected data on age, sex, etiology, total body surface area burned, length of hospital stay, documentation of isolated microorganisms at admission and during hospitalization, requirement of antibiotic therapy, and mortality. We evaluated data among 3 subgroups: group 1 (length of hospital stay of 0-10 days), group 2 (length of hospital stay of 11-30 days), and group 3 (length of hospital stay of >30 days). RESULTS: Mean ± SE age was 32.2 ± 1.6 years (range, 0-86 y), and male-to-female patient ratio was 2.1:1. Mean ± SE total body surface area burned was 12.6 ± 1.3% (range, 1%-85%). Scalds were the most common burn cause. Mean ± SE length of hospital stay was 17 ± 2.4 days (range, 1-363 d). Among the 27 positive wound swab cultures at admission, 9 were resistant. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common at admission. During hospitalization, microorganisms were isolated in wound swabs or tissues in 48 cases. Staphylococcus epidermidis and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were the most common bacteria. Therapeutic antibiotherapy was needed for 83.3% of group 3, 53.1% of group 2, and 20.2% of group 1. Mortality rate was 3.6% (n = 7/192 patients), with 3 patients in group1, 2 patients in group 2, and 2 patients in group 3 who had at least 1 microorganism at admission. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluations of microflora in burn centers and precautions against wound contamination during emergency and transport phases can contribute to informed decisions at burn centers.
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    Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Staff in First Aid for Minor Burns
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2022-09) Ayse Gul Atay Doygaci; Ayse Ebru Abali; Elif Unlu; Santiago J. Santelis; Eylem Gul; Mehmet Haberal
    ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of first aid for minor burns of health care workers in a university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 402 subjects including nurses (n = 163), medical technicians (n = 94), technicians/patient care support personnel (n = 145) participated. Data were collected by face-to-face interview technique using our 2 evaluation forms (characteristics of participants was form 1 and first aid knowledge on minor burns was form 2) (P < .005). RESULTS: Mean age was 29.7 years. Female to male ratio was 1:0.7. Form 2 was correctly answered by 76.9% of participants. Participants who stated that they have received first aid training on burns was 41.5%, but only 38.3% of the subjects felt confident for providing first aid. Running water was preferred by 85.6%. High education level, receiving first aid training, and seniority in the profession and in the institution were the effective factors for providing proper first aid (P < .005). Female (58.5%), single (59.8%), child-free (61.7%) participants and those who had attended first aid education programs more recently were prone to providing proper first aid than the others (P < .005). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, many participants had basic knowledge about first aid for minor burns, but they felt unconfident. Health care staff need periodical educational programs specific to them in addition to the basic awareness programs for burn injuries.