Study of Antimicrobial Sensitivity and Bacteriologic Patterns in Elective Abdominal Surgery Post-Surgical Wounds

Abstract

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is the third most frequently reported nosocomial infection, accounting for 14–16% of all hospital-acquired infections. SSI results from multiple factors, including the bacterial inoculum introduced during surgery, pathogen virulence, wound microenvironment, and the patient’s immune response. Both intrinsic patient factors and surgical conditions influence infection rates. This study aimed to analyze the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of post-surgical wounds in elective abdominal surgeries. A prospective observational study was conducted on 130 patients in the Department of General Surgery at Khaja Bandanawaz Teaching and General Hospital, Kalaburagi, over 18 months (December 2019–June 2021). The mean age of the study participants was 34 ± 16.30 years. Among the cases, 76.9% had a positive wound culture, while 23% were culture-negative. Regarding wound classification, 28.4% were clean wounds, 50% were clean-contaminated, and 20.7% were contaminated wounds. The most frequently isolated organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (18.4%) and Escherichia coli (15.3%). Infection types observed included superficial infections in 76.9% of cases, deep infections in 15.3%, and organ-space infections in 7.6%. The study findings highlight that SSI was more prevalent in middle-aged individuals, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most commonly isolated pathogen. The results emphasize the need for stringent infection control measures and targeted antimicrobial therapy to manage post-surgical infections effectively. Understanding bacterial patterns and their antimicrobial sensitivity can aid in formulating appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to reduce SSI incidence and improve post-surgical outcomes.