An Insight Into Bacterial Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Burn Wound Infections in Kerbala, Iraq

Abstract

background: There is paucity of data on bacterial profiles and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in burns care units in Kerbala, Iraq we sought to undertake this study.Aim of the study: is to have an insight into the bacteriological profile of buns wound infections and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the organisms isolated to antibiotics and disinfectants.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted prospectively at the Burns Care Unit (BCU) in Al-Hussein Medical City, Holy Kerbala Province, Iraq. Wound swabs were obtained from consecutive 57 burns patients treated in BCU for the period from November 2012 to March 2013. Microbial isolates were identified based on standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method, whereas efficacy of 5 most commonly used disinfectant was evaluated by agar-diffusion method.Results and Discussion: A total of 76 isolates were recovered. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the most common isolate (53.94%), followed by E.cloacae (25%), E.coli (11.84%), K.Pneumoniae (3.94%), S.aureus (3.94%), A. baumannii (1.31%). Majority of the bacterial isolates were multiple-drug resistant. Generally, Imipenem was the most effective antimicrobial agents. The best disinfectant was Sekusept Forte® whereas the least effective disinfectants were Povidone-Iodine and Chloroxylenol®.Conclusions: Pseudomonas was the predominant cause of burns infections and majority of isolates were multiple-drug resistant. These indicate the need for strict hygienic measurement to protect the burns patients from opportunistic pathogens.