Burns are associated with immune suppression and subsequent development of sepsis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that serve as a critical link between the innate and acquired immune systems, and are essential in coordinating the host response to pathogens. Using multicolour flow cytometry, the percentages of LIN(-) DR(+) CD11c(+) myeloid (mDC) and LIN(-) DR(+) CD123(+) plasmacytoid (pDC) subsets were determined in peripheral blood from 32 people (15 septic and 5 non-septic burn victims and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, up to 20 days from injury). Analysis revealed significant reductions in circulating mDCs and pDCs in survivor as well as non-survivor septic cases compared with non-septic cases and controls (p<0.001). These findings suggest that deficiencies in mDCs and pDC subsets are related to sepsis following severe burn, and may contribute to immunosuppression among burn victims.