Current antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria implicated in surgical wound infections in the Buea Health District, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the ever changing nature of bacteria and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in our society, antimicrobial susceptibility tests are necessary to guide the choice of antibiotics for treatment so as to minimize treatment failure and associated consequences. This study was designed to identify and determine the current susceptibility patterns of bacteria causing wound infections, in selected health facilities in Buea Health District, so as to provide useful data to improve on the future management of these wounds.
Materials and methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional design was used and the study was carried out from March 2020 to June 2020. The target population was all patients who had infected wounds. Swabs were collected from patient’s wounds for bacteria isolation and identification using standard methods. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was tested by the disc diffusion technique. Data obtained was analyzed by use of SPSS version 25.
Results: Out of the 220 specimens collected from infected wounds, 194 yielded pathogenic bacteria growths, giving an isolation rate of 88.2% (X2=0.306, df=3, p=0.959). The main bacteria implicated were Staphylococcus aureus 126 (46.3%) and the Enterobacteriaceae species, among others. The bacteria isolated showed significant resistance to some commonly prescribed antibiotics like Amoxicillin-Clavulanate and Ceftriaxone.
Conclusion: From our data the bacteria isolation rate from wounds was 88.2%, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most isolated germ, being 71.4% sensitive to Clindamycine and showing resistance to the penicillins.

Keywords: Wound infections, Susceptibility Patterns, Nurses