Bacteriological profile of burn patients and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of burn wound isolates

Background: Infection is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. Clinical diagnosis of bacteremia and/or sepsis in burn patients is difficult for a number of reasons. It could be symptomatic and/or asymptomatic as a result of immune deficiency secondary to thermal injury. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital Burn Unit Associated with Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Fifty burn patients were investigated for bacterial profile of burn wound infections. Specimens were collected on 3rd and 7th day of burns in the form of wound swabs. The organisms were isolated and identified by standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby -Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Gram negative organisms were found to be more prevalent. The most common isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) -38%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) -35%, Klebsiella spp.- 8%, Acinetobacter spp -5%, Staphylococcus epidermidis - 5%, Proteus spp. -3% and Escherichia coli -1%. Conclusions: Pseudomonas was the commonest cause of infection in fire burn patients in our setting followed by S. aureus. About 82% of the isolates showed multiple resistances. In light of our findings, regular antibiotic resistance test has to be done for each patient in order to select an appropriate antimicrobial agent.