Detection of bacterial pathogens in surgical site infections and their antibiotic sensitivity profile

Surgical site infections considered as a major problem in health care centers, resulting in extended length of stay, substantial associated morbidity and mortality, and high excess hospital cost. Thirty wound swabs were collected from patients who had developed postoperative wound infections at Rafidia Hospital-Nablus, Palestine. Bacterial isolates were identified according to standard microbiological methods. Antibiotics susceptibility test was applied for all isolated bacterial species. ERIC-PCR was carried out to determine the identity between isolated clones. The results of this research showed that the prevalence of pathogens among surgical site infections was 56.7%, 30%, 6.7%, 3.3% and 3.3% for E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., and Acinatobacter sp., respectively. E. coli isolates showed high resistance against Nalidixic acid (88.2%), Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (76.5%), Tetracycline (70.6%), Norfloxacin (64.7%) and Ciprofloxacin (58.5%). S. aureus showed high resistance against Nalidixic acid (88.9%), Norfloxacin (77.8%), Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid (77.8%), Kanamycin (66.7%) and Ciprofloxacin (55.6%). Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) accounted for 33.3% of a total of S. aureus isolates. Resistant to 3 or more antibiotics were detected in 94.1% (16/17) and 77.8% (7/9) of E. coli and S. aureus isolates, respectively. ERIC-PCR typing E. coli and S. aureus isolates showed that each was consisted of 4 ERIC-PCR clusters at a 50% similarity level. Indistinguishable and closely related strains were detected for both microorganisms. Results of this study might be important in provoking awareness to postoperative wound infections and further studies are needed to identify other pathogens responsible for SSIs and the source of infections. Using effective antibiotic policy will restrict further spread of postoperative wound infections.