Pattern of Multidrug Resistance Genes and Immunological Biomarkers in Post-Surgical wound infections in Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Post-surgical wound infection (PSWI) can cause poor wound healing and longer period of hospitalization. The study evaluated the patterns of antibiotic multidrug-resistant genes and immunological biomarkers associated with PSWI in Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: Bacterial isolates that were difficult to identify using cultural and biochemical means were sent for sequencing. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method was used to evaluate Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α,), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and automated blood counting was used for haematological parameters. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the multidrug-resistant genes (MDR). Two hundred participants (100 patients with PSWI and 100 apparently healthy individuals (control group) aged between 17-70 years were recruited into the cross-sectional study using simple random sampling method. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson correlation with p<0.05 assumed to be statistically significant. Results: The detection of Serratia marcescens, Ectopseudomonas mendocina, Providencia rettgeri, Providencia stuartii and Klebsiella grimontii using gene sequencing underscores a complex etiology in PSWI. We detected the presence of SHV, TEM, and gyrA MDR in patients with PSWI. The levels of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), IL-10, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly elevated in the test group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study detected the presence of SHV, TEM, and gyrA MDR genes in the isolates. The significantly elevated levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, NLR, and PLR in cases of PSWI suggest that these markers could be useful in the early detection, monitoring, and management of such cases.