Invitro antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from wound infections in university of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Abstract

The outcome of 532 wound swabs received from patients with wound infections in different units of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin, Nigeria, over a one year period (July 2000 June 2001), and routinely procesed by Gram staining and culture in the Microbiology Laboratory, is reported. 444(83.5) of all samples cultured positive for bacterial pathogens while 88 (16.5%) were bacteriologically sterile. 272 swabs yielded single isolate while 172 yielded a mixture of two or more organisms. Staphylococcus aureus predominates (35.8%), followed by Pseudomonas spp (21.8%), Escherichia coli (15.3%), Klebsiella spp (13.4%), Proteus spp (5.6%), Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (3.1%), Streptococcus faecalis (2.8%), Streptococcs pyogenes (0.9%), Group B _-haemolytic Streptococci (0.9%), and Acinetobacter spp (0.3%).
Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms demonstrated moderate to high in vitro sensitivity to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin (sensitivity rate 70-94%). In vitro sensitivity to Cloxacillin, Erythromycin, Azithromycin and Ceftazidime by Gram positive organisms ranged beween 55 and 90% while Gentamicin, Ceftrazidime and Azithromycin equally demonstrated moderate to high inhibitory effect on Gram negative organisms including Pseudomonas spp. (sensitivity rate 55-90%).
The Fluoroquino lones are the favoured antimicrobial agents nowadays, as demonstrated in this study. In our environment however, a combination of Cloxacillin and Gentamicin is an effective empiric alternative when cost is considered and this combination can be used. The need for continuous antimicrobial monitoring of clinical isolates of wound infection for drug resistance, which is of paramount importance in the empiric selection of antibiotics, is emphasized.


(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(1): 6-10)