Abstract

BACTERIOLOGY OF DIFFERENT WOUND INFECTION AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS IN IMO STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The bacterial aetiologic agents of wound infections in parts of Imo state, their distribution in relation to type of wound and their in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility patterns were investigated. Samples were collected and processed following standard microbiological techniques as part of the routine clinical management of the patients. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done on pure culture isolates employing disc-diffusion method for some commonly used antibiotics. A total of 150 patient made up of 89(59.3%) males and 61 (40.7%) females were sampled. The wounds were as follows;ulcer wounds (25.7%) burns (16.4%), trauma (13.8%), abscess (12.5%) post operative wound (11.8%), boils (9.9%), whitlow (6.6), cellulites (1.3%), dog bite (1.3%) and lymphoma (0.7%). Altogether, a total of 175 bacterial isolates were recovered from 152 specimens and predominant bacteria isolated from the infected wounds were staplylococcuss aureus (25.1%), followed by Psuebomonas aeruginosa (22.3%), Escherichia coli (13.1%), staphylococcus epidermidis (11.4%), Enterobacter species (6.9%), Klebsiella aerogenes (5.1%), Proteus vulgaris (5.1%), Proteus mirabilis (3.4%), Klebsiclla oxytoca (3.4%), streptococcus species (1.7%), staphylococcus saprophyticus (1.1%) and Bacillus species (1.1%). Most of the bacterial isolates were resistant to the antimicrobials used with some species exhibiting 100% resistance to as many as 8 to 10 different antibiotics. This study showed that wounds in patients in Imo State were colonized by different bacteria, including opportunistic bacteria with staphylococci being predominant. The multiple antibiotic resistant profile of the isolates recommends better clinical evaluation of antimicrobial therapy which would lead to more rational used of drugs.

Keywords: Bacteriology, wound, infections, antmicrobial, susceptibly, patterns.