Potential bacterial pathogens associated in wound infections at University Health Centre of a Southwest in Nigeria

Abstract

Healthy skin forms a formidable obstacle against microorganisms but once this defense process is altered or obstructed creating a wound, bacteria have an ideal environment for growth and reproduction. lt is hardly inevitable not to have a wound because bacteria are ambiguously present in every part of human body. Emergency cuts, wounds, burns and accident cases are common occurrence in most Teaching Hospitals, however this is not so rampant in the University Health Centre and this form the basis of the study to know the extent of potential bacterial pathogens associated in wound infections at the Health Centre of the Federal university of Technology, Akure. Nigeria. Method: One hundred and seventy wound swab samples were collected from staff and students of the university aged 1-69 years from March 2022 to August 2022.The samples were processed via microscopy and cultured on MacConkey, Blood and Chocolate Agar respectively in the Microbiology laboratory where standard cultural techniques was carried out to identify,isolate and characterize the bacteria isolated. Result: Of the 170 wound swab samples examined, 74(43.6%) was positive to bacteria growth, while 96(56.4%) had no bacteria isolated. Conclusion: The result illustrated there were potential bacterial pathogens associated in wound infections isolated from the samples that was analyzed. This indicated that potential bacterial when not properly managed and treated appropriately can complicate the healing process of wound.