Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Isolated From Surgical Wounds of Patients Attending Federal Medical Center and Christiana Specialist Hospital, Owerri

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating and determining the performance levels of different antibiotics used in the treatment of surgical wound infections at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and Christiana specialist hospital (CSH) Owerri. 100 post surgical wound specimens containing purulent materials were aseptically collected from postsurgical wound and cultured on MacConkey, blood and Mannitol salt agars. Bacteria growths were subjected to standard methods of identification. Isolated organisms were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility. Data generated were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA at 95% confidence limit.  A total of 146 bacterial isolates were obtained (81 from FMC and 65 from CSH). Most of the specimens yielded poly microbial growth (more than 60%). Staphylococcus species was significantly (p< 0.05) the most predominant bacteria isolated (70% and 58%) and the least significantly occurring (p< 0.05) was Proteus vulgaris (10% and 4%) on specimens from FMC and CSH Owerri respectively. At FMC, age group 20-29 yrs had the highest number of isolates (12) and ages 0-9 yrs recorded significantly (p< 0.05) the least number of isolates (03). Bacteria isolated from males (96) were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than in the females (45). Based on occupation, most bacteria (p< 0.05) were isolated from drivers (51) while the isolates from Igbos (106) were significantly the highest (p< 0.05) amongst the other tribes. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility revealed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more sensitive to NIT (62.9%), and most resistant to AMX (100%) on samples obtained from FMC. P. vulgaris was most sensitive to AMX (50%) and NAL (50%) on samples obtained from CSH. Therefore, usage of COT, GEN, and AUG in treatment of surgical wound infections were most likely not to yield any positive results.