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Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Bacterial Isolates from Surgical Site Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Surgical site infections are ranked among the most common health care associated infections. They cause significant morbidity, increased cost of care and prolonged hospital stay. A spectrum of microorganisms with varied antimicrobial susceptibility patterns have been identified as causative agents of SSI which vary with time, hospital, and with the type of surgical procedure performed. We conducted this study with an objective to assess the burden of SSI, its causative aerobic bacteria and their in vitro antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Aims & objectives 1) To identify the aerobic bacteriological profile of isolates causing surgical site infections. 2) To determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates. Method: This study includes 266 clinically diagnosed cases of SSIs over a period of 8 months. Isolates were identified by conventional methods. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were tested for methicillin resistance by cefoxitin. Isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae which showed resistance to cefotaxime and ceftazidime were tested for ESBL production by CLSI guidelines. Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were screened for MBL production using Imipenem disc diffusion test. Results of the 266 samples processed, 193(72.5%) were culture positive samples which yielded 204 isolates. Staphylococcus aureus 60 (29.4%) was found to be the predominant organism causing SSI followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 40 (19.6%). Methicillin resistance was observed in 12 (20%) of Staphylococcus aureus strains. ESBL production was observed in 20.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and 13.2 % Escherichia coli isolates. MBL production was not seen Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Conclusion: The present study showed the commonest bacteria responsible for the surgical site infections like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Hence Implementation of an effective infection control programme and judicious use of antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of SSI in the hospital.