A research agenda for burn infection prevention: identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing future directions

Madhuri M Sopirala; David Weber; Geeta Sood; Mohamed Yassin; Tina L Palmieri; Supriya Narasimhan; Clifford Sheckter; Julie Caffrey; Samuel Mandell; Larissa Pisney; Sheetal Kandiah; Jyoti Somani; Natalie Mackow; Karen Brust; Sara Karaba; Michelle Doll; Donald Chen; Lilian Abbo; Werner Bischoff

doi:10.1017/ash.2025.10213

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A research agenda for burn infection prevention: identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing future directions

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A research agenda for burn infection prevention: identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing future directions

Madhuri M Sopirala, David Weber, Geeta Sood, Mohamed Yassin, Tina L Palmieri, Supriya Narasimhan, Clifford Sheckter, Julie Caffrey, Samuel Mandell, Larissa Pisney, …

Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE, Vol.5(1), e293

10/01/2025

DOI: 10.1017/ash.2025.10213

PMCID: PMC12616570

PMID: 41245847

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Abstract

Objective: Burn injuries result in loss of skin barrier and altered immune responses that in turn make patients especially vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections. Despite prolonged exposures of these patients to hospital environments, burn-specific infection prevention strategies are understudied. We present a research agenda identifying key research gaps and organizing them into priority areas to guide future investigations in this high-risk population. Design: Members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Burn Infection Prevention and Control Special Interest Group and the American Burn Association (ABA) collaborated to develop this research agenda, combining expertise in infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and burn care. Results: We identified five priority areas: (1) improving surveillance and epidemiologic data on burn infections; (2) better understanding of microbiology, including biofilms and the microbiome; (3) evaluating wound healing strategies; (4) refining infection prevention and control practices unique to burn units; and (5) building burn patient specific risk assessment and predictive models. The agenda highlights the need for standardized definitions and shared data platforms. It calls for evaluation of practical strategies for infection prevention, stewardship, and environmental control. Conclusions: This research agenda intends to help guide future studies aimed at furthering knowledge and improving outcomes in burn care.

Antimicrobial Agents

Biofilms

Burns

Drug Resistance

Emergency Medical Care

Epidemiology

Health Care

Microbiology

Wound Healing

Collaboration

Environmental control

Injuries

Length of stay

Microbiota

Mortality

Multidrug resistant organisms

Outdoor air quality

Pathogens

Patients

Prediction models

Prevention

Risk assessment

Skin

Staphylococcus infections

Details

Title: Subtitle: A research agenda for burn infection prevention: identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing future directions
Creators: Madhuri M Sopirala - Southwestern Medical Center
David Weber
Geeta Sood
Mohamed Yassin - University of Pittsburgh
Tina L Palmieri - University of California System
Supriya Narasimhan - Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Clifford Sheckter - Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Julie Caffrey - Johns Hopkins University
Samuel Mandell - Southwestern Medical Center
Larissa Pisney - University of Colorado Denver
Sheetal Kandiah - Emory University
Jyoti Somani - Jackson Health System
Natalie Mackow
Karen Brust - University of Iowa
Sara Karaba
Michelle Doll - Indiana University School of Medicine
Donald Chen - Westchester Medical Center
Lilian Abbo - Jackson Health System
Werner Bischoff - Wake Forest University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE, Vol.5(1), e293
DOI: 10.1017/ash.2025.10213
PMID: 41245847
PMCID: PMC12616570
NLM abbreviation: Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol
ISSN: 2732-494X
eISSN: 2732-494X
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Cambridge
Grant note: MBA from Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of AmericaBurn Infection Prevention and Control Special Interest Group
The authors would like to thank Kristy Weinshel, MBA from Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America for her involvement with the Burn Infection Prevention and Control Special Interest Group.
Language: English
Date published: 10/01/2025
Academic Unit: Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9985019041602771

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