Abstract:
A wound is a breach in the skin and the exposure of subcutaneous tissue following loss of skin
integrity providing moist, warm and nutritive environment that is conducive to microbial
colonization and proliferation. Wound can be infected by a variety of microorganisms ranging
from bacteria to fungi and parasites as well as virus. The aim of this study is to identify bacteria
isolate, their drug susceptibility pattern and associated factors among clinically suspected
patients admitted for wound infection at Dil-Chora Referral Hospital from March 15/2016 to
June 14/2016. A hospital based cross-sectional study was used among a total of 188 patients
using purposive sampling techniques. Data on socio-demographic and clinical information and
other factors were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Wound swab/pus
discharge were collected and inoculated on Blood and Macckonckey agar. Biochemical tests and
Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed following standard disk diffusion technique of
modified Kirby-Bauer method. Data were analysed using Statistical package for social science
(SPSS) version 16 software. The overall magnitude of bacteria isolated from wound infection in
this study was 89.4%. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant organisms (32.9%) followed
by Proteus species (28.6), CONS (13.1%), P. aeruginosa (8.5%), Klebsiella species (6.1%), E.
coli (4.2%), Citrobacter (3.8%) and Providencia (2.8%). Gram positive bacteria showed high
frequency of resistance to ampicillin, penicillin and erythromycin. Gram negative bacteria
showed high frequency of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, ceftriaxone
and doxycycline. The overall Multi drug resistance rate was 85%. Of the following risk factors:
Sex, Type of specimens and Type of ward was identified as a risk factor for wound infection.
The magnitude of bacteria isolated from wound infection in Dil-Chora Referral Hospital was
found to be high. Drug resistance was seen in 207/213(97.2%) of the isolated bacteria. Such
widespread resistance to antimicrobial agents is something serious because a few treatment
options remain for patients with wound infection. Amikacin, Gentamicin and Vancomycin are
best antibiotics for treatment of bacterial wound infection at Dil-Chora Referral Hospital and
other nearby health institutions at Dire Dawa.
