New Vaccine Helps Burn Patients Fight Infection
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Trial Shows Lower Death Rates
A new vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections is proving effective in reducing sepsis and death among severely burned patients, Cincinnati investigators reported at the American College of Surgeons meeting in San Francisco.Preliminary trial of the vaccine was conducted at the Cincinnati Shriners' Burns Institute and Cincinnati General Hospital.Of 72 patients who received the vaccine, 7 developed Pseudomonas sepsis and 4 died. In comparison, 28 of 121 control patients developed sepsis and 22 died. (It was pointed out that the study excluded patients who died within five days of injury and those whose burns covered less than 20% of their bodies.)Its "striking effectiveness" has encouraged a more definitive evaluation, now underway, Kenneth E. Schemmer, MD, said.Associated with Dr. Schemmer, surgical resident at the Institute, were J. Wesley Alexander, MD, ScD, associate professor of surgery