BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF WOUND INFECTIONS AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Wound infections are frequently attributed to several bacterial pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and members of Enterobacteriaceae family. With emergence of MRSA, ESBL producers and Carbapenem Resistance Producers, antibiotics have become indispensable in treating the infections making surveillance of changing prevalent microorganisms along with their antibiotic susceptibility patterns a need of the hour. Objective: This study was aimed to isolate bacteria from wound infections and detect their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methodology: A total of 100 samples from wounds were processed and Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was tested by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion method. ESBL production was tested by a combined disc diffusion assay, Carbapenem Resistance was tested using Meropenem discs and MRSA were detected using Cefoxitin disc. Results: Culture positivity was 86% with predominant isolate being Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.4%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21.2%) and Klebsiella species (17%). ESBL producers were 23.40% of the isolates, 51.06% isolates being Carbapenem Resistant and 19.19% being MRSA. Conclusion: Regular surveillance, strict implementation of infection control practices and antibiotic policy added with root cause analysis of wound infections can reduce the burden of antibiotic resistance.