Effects of empirical antibiotic administration on the level of C-Reactive protein and inflammatory markers in severe burn patients.

Severe burns lead to a high level of inflammation and high risk of infection. Inflammatory biomarkers are usually used to predict the severity of inflammation or infection and to assess the efficacy of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics in burns is still controversial. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of empirical antibiotics on level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory markers (leucocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and ratio of neutrophils-lymphocytes) in severe burn patients. This cohort study was conducted in the burn unit of Dr. Soetomo Hospital between April and November 2019. CRP and other inflammatory markers were measured on admission, day 5, and day 7 after the administration of empirical antibiotics. Fifteen severe burn patients were enrolled in this study. All patients received Ceftazidime, 3x1 gram during seven days of hospitalization. CRP level reduced from 15,78±7,5 mg/dl to 14,98±10,29 mg/dl (p=0,705) by paired-t-test. There were no significant differences in mean decline of CRP between day 0-5 and 0-7. There was no decrease in inflammatory markers, including leucocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and ratio of neutrophils-lymphocytes during seven days of empirical antibiotic administration. Our conclusions are that the administration of ceftazidime as an empirical antibiotic lowers CRP level, although not significantly, while there is no decrease in several inflammatory markers.