Spectrum Of Surgical Site Infections in the Surgical Ward

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the spectrum of bacterial pathogens causing SSIs in surgical patients, and to determine the antibiotic resistance and susceptibility patterns of these organisms.

Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from January to December 2024. A total of 300 patients who underwent surgery and developed SSIs were included. Pus samples were collected from infected surgical sites, cultured, and analyzed for microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility using standard microbiological techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Results: The study identified Klebsiella (23.3%), Escherichia coli (17%), Pseudomonas (12.7%), and Staphylococcus aureus (9.7%) as the most common pathogens in SSIs. Across the bacterial isolates, a common trend of resistance was observed against amoxicillin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, and penicillin. In contrast, higher sensitivity was seen with amikacin, tobramycin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, colistin, and minocycline, though the degree of susceptibility varied among species.

Conclusion: There is a predominance of gram-negative bacteria, including Klebsiella and E. coli, among the bacterial pathogens causing SSIs. Among these, significant antibiotic resistance was noted against commonly used antibiotics. Amikacin and tobramycin were found to be effective against a wide range of pathogens. The results underscore the importance of judicious antibiotic use, continuous monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, and the development of alternative treatment options to effectively manage SSIs.