Abstract
IntroductionWound infection is a significant clinical challenge in hospitals in developing countries where proper healthcare delivery is hampered by limited resources. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria causing wound infection and risk factors for infection among hospitalized patients in Buea, Cameroon, to generate findings which could drive reformation of policies on infection control.MethodsAerobic bacteria were isolated from 212 swabs collected from patients with clinically diagnosed infected wounds. Risk factors for wound infection were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined by disk diffusion technique. The Chi-square test was employed to determine significant differences in isolation and distribution of organisms in various specimens. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.ResultsTwelve bacteria species were isolated from 169 (79.7%) specimens. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the predominant isolates in all wound types exhibited a high preponderance of multidrug resistant strains. High rate of infection was attributed to lack of constant water supply and breakdown of sterilization equipment during the study period. Highest diversity of pathogens occurred in open wounds. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in isolation of pathogens with respect to age, gender and wound type. Co-existing morbidity increased risk of wound infection. Isolates were susceptible to fluoroquinolones and resistant to oxacillin.ConclusionWound infection with resistant bacteria constitutes a significant cause of morbidity in the study area. Findings reiterate the need to strengthen infection control and drug dispensing policies, and greater collaboration between microbiologists and medical practioners to stem the spread of resistant bacteria.
Highlights
Wound infection is a significant clinical challenge in hospitals in developing countries where proper healthcare delivery is hampered by limited resources
Despite the progress made with respect to infection control and wound management, wound infection still remains a serious and significant clinical challenge in developing countries where wound site infections are a major source of post operative illness, a cause of death among burn patients [1] and accounts for approximately a quarter of all nosocomial infections [2]
Majority of the pateints presented with open wounds (165/212=77.8%) while those with burns (3/212=1.4%) constituted the least
Summary
Wound infection is a significant clinical challenge in hospitals in developing countries where proper healthcare delivery is hampered by limited resources. Despite the progress made with respect to infection control and wound management, wound infection still remains a serious and significant clinical challenge in developing countries where wound site infections are a major source of post operative illness, a cause of death among burn patients [1] and accounts for approximately a quarter of all nosocomial infections [2]. These infections have resulted in increased trauma in patient, prolonged hospitalization, increased hospital cost as general wound management practices become more resource demanding. Knowledge of risk factors associated with infections could help strengthen efforts to reduce their occurrence, reducing morbidity and mortality for these infections
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