Dr. Satyajit Sahu
BACKGROUND Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main culprit of hospital acquired infection especially in wards like critical care area and burn units. Treatment for burns has been improved greatly but infections with multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains P.aeruginosa remain the main concern for death especially in critical care areas. We wanted to update the antibiotic sensitivity profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in burn wounds among the burn patients at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS This is a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary health care center for one year. Data regarding the organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa was collected from the medical records. In this, samples from patients admitted in burn unit were collected and the isolates were identified by conventional phenotypic methods. The antibiotic sensitivity testing of all P. aeruginosa isolates was done using modified Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method and the results were interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. RESULTS Of a total of 116 patients, P. aeruginosa was isolated from 62 (41.3%) samples. Among all the isolates 42 (67.7%) were MDR and 18 (29%) were XDR. And the isolates show maximum resistance to Ticarcillin-Clavulanic Acid (96.77%), followed by Cefepime (93.54%), Levofloxacin (93.54%), Piperacillin (91.94%), Netilmicin (91.94%), Ceftazidime (90.32%), Doripenem (90.32%), Ciprofloxacin (87.1%), Imipenem (87.1%), Meropenem (85.49%), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (83.87%), Gentamicin (58.06%), Aztreonam (51.61%), Tobramycin (50%) and Amikacin (48.4%). CONCLUSIONS The result confirmed the prevalence of MDR strains. Prevention of, dissemination and indiscriminate use of antibiotics is important. Novel infection control practices, hospital antibiotic policy and regular surveillance programmes should be implemented.
