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Comparative Efficacy of Vashe and Sulfamylon in Reducing Infection Rates in Postoperative Burn Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Omar Zein, MD1; Hilary Y. Liu, BS2; Jos� Antonio Arellano, MD2; Garth Elias, MD2; Alain C. Corcos, MD, FACS1; Jenny A. Ziembicki, MD1; Yassin MH, MD, PhD3; Francesco M. Egro, MD1,2
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
2025-01-16
Presenter: Omar Zein
Affidavit:
I agree
Director Name: Vu T Nguyen
Author Category: Other Specialty Resident
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Introduction:
Infection is a leading cause of mortality in third-degree burns, contributing to over 75% of burn-related deaths. Vashe and Sulfamylon are commonly used antiseptics in burn care, but comparative data on their efficacy in reducing infection and mortality is limited. This study compares the effectiveness of Vashe and Sulfamylon in managing infections and mortality in postoperative burn patients.
Methods:
This retrospective study included adult patients with 3rd-degree burns who underwent surgical excision and grafting from January 2012 to March 2022 at a single ABA-verified burn center. Patients were divided into two groups based on initial antiseptic treatment. Primary outcomes (infection rates, mortality) and secondary outcomes (length of stay, surgical procedures, complications) were compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests.
Results:
The study included 138 patients (34.7% female, 65.3% male), predominantly Caucasian (97.8%), with an average age of 51.1 � 17.7 years and BMI of 28.7 � 6.5 kg/m�. Most patients (95.6%) sustained thermal burns. Of the patients, 89.1% received Sulfamylon and 10.9% Vashe. Mortality was 7.3% in the Sulfamylon group, with no deaths in the Vashe group (p=0.28). Treatment durations, hospital stays, time to surgery, number of operations, and infection onset times were comparable between groups, with no significant differences observed (p-values ranging from 0.28�0.57).
Conclusion:
No significant differences were found between Sulfamylon and Vashe in infection, mortality, or morbidity outcomes. Both treatments showed similar efficacy in infection control, length of stay, and surgical procedures.
