Effect of Early Change of Skin Graft Dressing on the Burn Wound Healing

Background Burn injuries are one of the medical problems in developing countries. Despite the progress in burn wound treatment, the leading cause of death in patients with burns is hospital-acquired infection. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of early change of skin graft dressing on the burn wound healing. Methods This Randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 burn patients admitted to the burn ward of Shahid Rajaei Hospital in 2017. In the test group (Mean±SD of age=36.8±13.8 years), the skin graft and donor dressing were changed one day after; and in the control group (Mean±SD of age=40.4±14.3 years), three days after the surgery. Data were analyzed by paired t-test, independent t-test and ANOVA. Findings The percentage of burn in the intervention group was 12.1%, and in the control group 14.5%. Chisquare test results showed that the culture results was different in the control and test groups; 7.8% of the cultures taken from the skin graft and donor sites were positive in the control group, while none of them were reported positive in the test group. Conclusion Early change of the skin graft and donor dressing reduces infection in patients with burn injuries.