Distribution and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Burn Wound Colonization in Referred Patients at the Burn Care Centre, PIMS, Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Background: Burn injuries represent a significant health challenge worldwide due to their high mortality and disability rates. These wounds often become prone to infection due to compromised immunity and disrupted blood vessels at the injury site. Timely surgical excision, coupled with topical chemotherapy, has notably reduced mortality rates in burn patients. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of common bacterial infections among referred patients, with a minimum delay of one week, and to assess their bacteriological susceptibility at the Burn Care Centre, PIMS, Islamabad. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted between March 2021 and February 2023. We reviewed wound swab culture results spanning 24 months, primarily from referred patients. Wound specimens were collected using sterile swabs and standard techniques from registered patients, then analyzed at the microbiological laboratory based on patients' culture reports. Results: A total of 226 culture reports were assessed, comprising 95 (42.04%) male patients and 131 (57.96%) female patients, with a mean age of 21 years (range: 11 months to 65 years). Among these reports, 16 (7.08%) showed no growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified in 88 patients (38.93%), while Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was present in 57 (25.22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae in 36 (15.93%), and a combination of Klebsiella and Pseudomonas in 18 (7.96%) cases, as per the swab culture reports. Escherichia coli was detected in 3 (1.33%) cases and Enterobacter in 2 (0.88%) cases. Other bacteria were found in 6 (2.65%) swab culture reports. Pseudomonas and Klebsiella exhibited maximum susceptibility to Polymyxin B, at 67.04% and 61.11%, respectively, while MRSA showed the highest susceptibility to linezolid, at 89.47%. Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most prevalent bacteria among patients referred to our Burn Care Center. Referred burn patients were found to be colonized with multi-drug resistant bacteria, compared to inpatient cases at our center.