Pattern of microorganism from burn wounds and their trends of susceptibility to antibiotics in tertiary care center

Abstract

Context: Microbial infection is the most common and the most serious complication of burn injury. It accounts for approximately 75% of all death in burn victims. Burn wound facilitates a favorable lodgment for existence and multiplication of bacteria. Patients with diminished immunity are highly susceptible and at increased risk of developing a wound infection. Aims: To determine the prevalent bacteria causing wound infection and their trends of susceptibility to antibiotics over a period of 1 year in burn cases. Settings and Design: This is an observation 1 year retrospective study conducted in Department of Microbiology and Burn Unit in a Tertiary Care Hospital and Teaching Institute during January-December 2013. Subjects and Methods: During the study, 118 samples were collected and processed. The specimens were cultured using aerobic microorganism techniques. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing to different agents was carried out using the disc diffusion method. Statistical Analysis Used: No. Results: During the study, a total of 118 samples were tested. Out of 118, 109 were found to be culture positive. Out of 109, 34 Gram-positive cocci and 118 Gram-negative Bacilli were isolated. In this study, maximum number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40.6%) isolated followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (33%), Staphylococcus aureus (16%), CONS (12%), Escherichia coli (11%), Proteus (4.2%), member of nonfermenter (3.3%), member of Enterobacteriaceae (3.3%), Acinetobacter spp. (1.6%), Citrobacter spp. (1.6%), and Providencia (0.8%). Different antibiotics were tested against the Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative Bacilli. Conclusions: In the consequences, the increasing quality of care in burn units and improving treatment opportunities do not lead to a remarkable decrease in the mortality rates. All the related causes are the combination of the rapidly changing microorganism dominating different burn wound infection, their great antibiotics resistance, and the huge cost of treatments.