Keywords
Bioethanol
Accident Prevention
Colombia
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Bioethanol fireplace burns represent an emerging public health issue associated with decorative devices using volatile fuels, posing severe injury risks. Objective: To describe clinical, demographic, and contextual characteristics of patients with bioethanol fireplace burns treated at a specialized burn unit in Bogotá. Methodology: Prospective, observational, and analytical study of all cases (n=24) between January/2020 and June/2025. Clinical, sociodemographic, and contextual variables were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, survival analysis, and quadratic regression were applied. Results: Median age was 40 years (IQR: 25–42); 66.7 % were men. Surgery was required in 50 %, mechanical ventilation in 25 %. The mortality rate was 16.7 %. Infections were present in 41.7 %. Most injuries occurred during ignition (75 %) and one-third had delayed hospital admission. Frequent ICD-10 codes: T311, T312, T315, T270, Y260, X040. Conclusion: Bioethanol burns are severe and increasing. Regulatory action, public education, and safer product designs are needed.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Albert Alejandro Ávila Álvarez, Jenny Carolina Páez-Figueroa, Luis Fernando Méndez Guarnizo, Aníbal A. Teherán, Norberto Navarrete Aldana, Federico Fernández Bernal