ANTIBIOTICS SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM WOUND IN PATIENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (UBTH)

ABSTRACT

Wound infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the world and it is associated with long hospital stay and increased cost, 75% of all deaths following thermal injuries are related to infections.The work aimed to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacteria isolated from infected wound in patients at UBTH.Wound is a breach in the skin and the exposure of subcutaneous tissue following loss of skin integrity provides a moist, warm and nutritive environment that is conductive to microbial colonization and proliferation. Wound is classified into superficial infection which include primary and secondary cutaneous infection. Microbiological analysis of wound, include macroscopic examination, microscopic examination, culture of wound specimen etc. Rapid antibiotics susceptibility test (AST) results (direct-from sample or otherwise) may help reduce the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics and thereby curtail the development of drug-resistance. In developing countries, wound infections are recognized as a prominent route of bacterial infections.Isolates that have been incriminated in cases of wound infections include: Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus faecalis. Samples were collected aseptically from patients at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and transported to the medical microbiology laboratory for processing, thereafter the already identified bacteria isolates where obtained in slant medium for further processing. Results were obtained on the baseline of characteristics which included biochemical test and antibiotics susceptibility test results. The study showed the prevalence of Gram negative bacteria amongst others. Multi drug resistant (MDR) organisms had quit high prevalence in wound infections among patients at UBTH. Therefore, there is need for adequate intervention to limit the spread and evolution of further resistance.