A cross-sectional study of pathogenic bacteria isolated from patient with burn injury in AL-Najaf City, Iraq

Background: Burns are a type of injury that occurs when the skin or other tissue is damaged by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or radiation. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL) and multidrug-resistant bacteria that were isolated from burn patients as well as the patterns of antibiotic sensitivity of each bacterial isolate. Methodology: From June 2024 to January 2025, 86 burns swabs were collected from hospitalized patients at Al-Najaf Central Hospital in Al-Najaf City, Iraq. Standardized microbiological assays were used to identify every bacterial isolate that was generated. The disc diffusion technique was used to test for antibiotic susceptibility. Standardized procedures and criteria were followed in order to identify bacteria that were resistant to multiple drugs (MDR) and extensive drugs (XDR) those that produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Results: Out of total 123 bacterial isolates; 44(36%) S. aureus, 28(23%) was K. pneumonia, 26(21%) A. boumannii, 13(10.5%) P. aeruginosa and 8(6.5%) E. coli (3.3%), 4(3%) P. mirabilis. Out of total 123 bacterial isolates, there were 113(92%) were MDR and 10(8%) were XDR. Out of total 79 gram negative bacteria, there were 25 isolates (32%) were ESBL and 54 isolates (68%) non-ESBL. Ten K. pneumonia isolates (36%) were ESBL, 11(42%) A. boumannii , 4(31%) P. aeruginosa and there were no any E. coli and P. mirabilis isolates recorded as ESBL. Conclusion: This study concluded that S. aureus was the most common caused burns infections at Al-Najaf Hospital and the most prevalent ESBL bacteria were K.pneumonia and A. boumannii.