AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY- PATTERN OF PATHOGENS AND THEIR SENSITIVITY ISOLATED FROM SUPERFICIAL SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS

BACKGROUND Infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in post-operative patients. Frequently emerging multidrug resistance and difficulty in curing patients with medications necessitates such study. Surgical Site Infections (SSI) are defined as infections that occur at the incision site within thirty days after surgery. The objectives of the study were to determine the pattern of pathogens involved and their antibiotic sensitivity isolated from superficial surgical site infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is an observational study that was conducted for 6 months. Pus culture and sensitivity reports were collected prospectively from hospitalised patients who developed postoperative wound infections. The patients who developed faecal/biliary/urinary fistula or operated for malignancies and with negative cultures were excluded from the study. Analysis was carried out using SPSS 10. RESULTS During the study period 60 patients were analysed, E. coli 36 (60%) is the most common isolate in our study followed by 12 (20%) Klebsiella. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the least commonly found isolate, 1 (1.7%). All isolates were sensitive to penicillin derivatives and carbapenem. Quinolones, Aminoglycosides and Monobactams were also showing some promise in our study. However, Cephalosporins were ineffective against most of the important isolates in our study. CONCLUSION There was compelling evidence that Cephalosporins were ineffective against the common pathogens causing SSI and it is time for surgeons to court ‘new’ antibiotics effective against today’s pathogens for both prophylaxis and empirical therapy.