Patterns of Bacterial Isolation, Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Associated with Infected Wounds: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Aims: To isolate and identify bacteria from infected wounds and determine their patterns of antibiotic susceptibility in order to understand their role in delayed wound healing and overall impact on patient quality of life. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Vivek Laboratories, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India; study conducted over the period of 1 year from July 2023 to June 2024. Methodology: A total of 606 wound swab and pus samples were collected from patients presenting for medical care. Samples were cultured, and bacterial isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: Out of 606 wound samples, 286 showed bacterial growth, indicating a 47% infection rate. Among the isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common (31.81%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (20.9%), Escherichia coli (17.13%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.98%). Infection was more common in males (59%) than females (41%), with the highest prevalence in the 41–60 age groups (41%) and the lowest in the 01–20 age group (4%). No significant association was observed between infection and potential risk factors (p > 0.05). All isolates were 100% susceptible to vancomycin and 100% resistant to penicillin. Ofloxacin was found to be the most effective first-line treatment. Staphylococcus aureus emerged as the predominant pathogen. Conclusion: Wound infections are predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a high level of resistance to penicillin and full susceptibility to vancomycin. Early identification and targeted therapy can help improve patient outcomes and wound healing.