The Antibiogram of Postoperative Wound Bacterial Infections in Tripoli, Libya

الملخص

Surgical-wound infections remain one of the major health problems that is implicated in spreading of antibiotic
resistant bacteria and increasing morbidity and mortality rates. To improve appropriate antimicrobial therapy and
reduce the incidence of antibiotics resistant bacteria, information on the antibiotic susceptibility is urgently needed.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify bacterial pathogens from hospital acquired surgical wound infections
and investigates their antimicrobial resistance patterns among patients at Tripoli Medical Center in Libya.
This study was conducted over the period between March 2014 and October 2014 at Tripoli Medical Center. A
total of 114 bacterial isolates were cultured onto bacteriological media such as MacConkey agar and blood agar.
Identification of retrieved bacterial isolates was done using standard diagnostic microbiological laboratory methods
and antibiogram was determined by VITEK ® 2 compact automated system.
A total of 114 bacterial pathogens were isolated. A 39% (45/114) of bacterial isolates were Gram positive bacteria,
while 61% (69/114) were Gram negative bacteria. The most predominant isolates were Staphylococus aureus
accounting for (20%), followed by Escherichia coli (14%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13%), Enterococcus faecalis
(11%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%), Proteus mirabilis (7%), Acinetobacter baumannii (7%), coagulase negative
Staphylococci (5%), Citrobacter freundii (4%), Enterococcus faecium (3%). The lowest rate of isolation was
Morganella morganii (2%). Most (80%) of the15 K. pneumoniae isolates, (50%) of the 16 E. coli, (40%) of 11 P.
aeruginosa and (13%) of P. mirabilis isolates were extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) producing strains.
Of the Gram positive isolates, 50% of the 23 S. aureus isolates were MRSA strains. Drug resistance profiles were
variable and showed at least two or more antibiotics resistance by each isolated bacteria.
Antibiotic resistance profile showed quite high antibiotic resistant bacteria. To reduce that, proper usage of antibiotics
and strict aseptic techniques during and after surgery are needed.