Isolation Of Bacterial Pathogen And Antibiotic Sensitivity Analysis Of Breast Abscess In Lactating And Non-Lactating Women

This study aimed to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens from breast abscess samples of women attending different tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates. Pus samples were collected from both lactational and non-lactational women and processed using standard microbiological techniques, including culture on selective media, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method following CLSI guidelines. The predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. S. aureus exhibited high susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and amikacin, but resistance to streptomycin and amoxicillin. P. aeruginosa was most susceptible to ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin, while showing resistance to streptomycin, amoxicillin, and amikacin. E. coli was susceptible to ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin, but resistant to amikacin, amoxicillin, and streptomycin. Streptococci showed susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin, but resistance to moxifloxacin and amikacin. The findings of this study highlight the importance of routine microbiological culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing for effective management of breast abscess infections.