Abstract
A prospective study was conducted at Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH) between August 1999 and July 2000 in the Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecological units to identify the bacterial pathogens associated with infected wounds as well as their antibiotic sensitivity profile.
A total of 1670 patients were seen in these units, out of which 130 (7.78%) developed wound infections. There was a statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the septic wounds associated with the non-operative cases (11.9%) and those of post-operative cases (6.41%). Amongst the 186 bacterial agents isolated from all the samples examined, Klebsiella species (25.3%) accounted for the most common isolates while the least was Enterococcus faecalis (5.4%). Klebsiella species was observed to be most prevalent in the Obstetrics and Gynaecological wounds while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the commonest in the Orthopaedic wounds.
The sensitivity profile of the isolates to the commonly used antibiotics including those used as pre-operative prophylactic agents ranged between 1.67-46.8%, the range for the aminoglycosides was between 61.8-75%, while the fluoroquinolones had a range of 82.8%-89.2%.
The high level of bacterial resistance to the common antibiotics in this study, re-emphasized the need to properly monitor the use of antibiotics including those used as pre-operative prophylactic agents in this country.
A total of 1670 patients were seen in these units, out of which 130 (7.78%) developed wound infections. There was a statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the septic wounds associated with the non-operative cases (11.9%) and those of post-operative cases (6.41%). Amongst the 186 bacterial agents isolated from all the samples examined, Klebsiella species (25.3%) accounted for the most common isolates while the least was Enterococcus faecalis (5.4%). Klebsiella species was observed to be most prevalent in the Obstetrics and Gynaecological wounds while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the commonest in the Orthopaedic wounds.
The sensitivity profile of the isolates to the commonly used antibiotics including those used as pre-operative prophylactic agents ranged between 1.67-46.8%, the range for the aminoglycosides was between 61.8-75%, while the fluoroquinolones had a range of 82.8%-89.2%.
The high level of bacterial resistance to the common antibiotics in this study, re-emphasized the need to properly monitor the use of antibiotics including those used as pre-operative prophylactic agents in this country.
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(1): 13-16)