Bacteriological Profile of Wound Sepsis and Antimicrobial Pattern of Isolates at Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria

Aim: The study was aimed to identify etiology of bacteria associated with wound infections and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolated organisms in the community.

Study Design and Methodology: It is a retrospective study; data was obtained from Medical Microbiology department register from May 2005 through October 2007 and was exempted from ethical approval. Swab samples were collected from 408 patients between age groups 0 through 75 years from out patients and inpatients admitted in the wards for various injuries such as burns, post surgical wound, fracture and ulcer wound. Samples were cultured within 1hour on macConkey agar, blood agar and chocolate agar, and incubated at 37°C for 18-24hours overnight. Data was coded and computed using SPSS 16.0 and p-value 0.05 was considered statistical significant.

Results: Out of 408 swab samples, 338 (82.8%) yielded positive culture, overall highest isolates was found within age groups 31-40 years with 69(94.5%) growth followed by 21-30 years 61(85.9%) and the least growth was found in 51-60years 27(77.1%) and 0-10years 88(77.2%), and statistically not significant (p-value 0.814, mean age =11.34, median =12.00, mode =12 and S.D±4.361). The highest single isolates was Staphylococcus aureus 122(42.5%) followed by Escherichia coli 108(37.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 28(9.8%), Proteus species 15(5.2%) and lowest isolates were Candida albicans 3(1.0%), Clostridium species 2(0.7%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus 2(0.7%) and Streptococcus species 2(0.7%).

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus had the most prevalent polymicrobial isolates with 28(54.9%) followed by Escherichia coli and Proteus species 8(15.7%).

Staphylococcus aureus the highest prevalent single isolates was susceptible to Ceftriazone 75(61.5%), Ciprofloxacin 71(58.2%), Ofloxacin 68(55.7%) and Clindamycin 83(68.0%).

Conclusion: The incidence rate of wound sepsis in the studied population is 338(82.88%) with incriminating single isolate of Staphylococcus aureus 122(42.5%). This is a serious burden to our patients which call for serious attention among stake holders.

Recommendation: Stake holders need to educate patients visiting hospital community on the danger of wound sepsis, and first aid treatment before visiting tertiary health care to reduce morbidity and mortality incidence rate.