From the Guidelines
Burn wound treatment should prioritize covering the wound with a nonadherent bandage or clean cloth to protect the wound and reduce pain, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1.
Key Considerations
- For minor burns, gentle cleaning with mild soap and water, followed by the application of an antibiotic ointment and a sterile, non-stick bandage, is advisable.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain.
- Severe burns require immediate medical attention, possibly including specialized dressings, prescription antibiotics, or skin grafting.
- It is crucial to avoid applying ice, butter, oil, or home remedies to burns, as these can worsen tissue damage or cause infection.
Wound Care
- Burns heal better in moist environments, which promotes cell migration and prevents scab formation that can impede healing and increase scarring.
- The use of silver sulfadiazine is associated with prolonged healing if used for a long time on superficial burns, as noted in the management of severe thermal burns in adults and children 1.
- Topical antibiotics should be dedicated to infected wounds only, and antiseptic dressings may be appropriate for large or contaminated burns.
Dressing and Monitoring
- Dressings should be re-evaluated daily, and external cooling devices should not be used for prolonged periods to limit the risk of hypothermia 1.
- Burn wounds can be covered with sterile gauze, interface dressings, or non-adhesive dressings in the prehospital phase, but this should not delay other resuscitation interventions.
- Irrigation of the wound and debridement of necrotic tissue are crucial in preventing infection, especially in damaged skin like burn wounds 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The burn wounds are then cleansed and debrided; silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is then applied under sterile conditions. The burn areas should be covered with silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% at all times The cream should be applied once to twice daily to a thickness of approximately one sixteenth of an inch. Treatment with silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% should be continued until satisfactory healing has occurred or until the burn site is ready for grafting.
Burn wound treatment with silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% involves:
- Cleansing and debriding the wound
- Applying the cream under sterile conditions
- Covering the burn area with the cream at all times
- Applying the cream once to twice daily
- Continuing treatment until satisfactory healing or until the burn site is ready for grafting 2
From the Research
Burn Wound Treatment Overview
- Burn wound treatment aims to accelerate tissue renovation and prevent infection 3
- Early burn wound excision and skin grafting are common clinical practices that have improved outcomes for severe burn injured patients 4
- Topical antibiotics, such as silver nitrate, silver sulfadizine, and mafenide acetate, are used in the treatment of burns 5
Treatment Options
- Mafenide acetate solution dressings can be used as an adjunct in burn wound care to promote debridement, granulation tissue protection, and bacterial control 6
- Olea ointment has been shown to be effective in preventing infections, accelerating tissue repair, and facilitating debridement in burn wounds 3
- Acetate Mafenide ointment is also used in the treatment of burns, but may have a higher risk of side effects compared to Olea ointment 3
Nursing Care
- Accurate assessment of burn depth and appropriate fluid management are essential in the immediate care of burn injuries 7
- Nursing care involves promoting wound healing, preventing infection, and managing pain and discomfort 7