Aerobic bacteriological profile and susceptibility antibiogram of isolates from pus in complicated wound infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Faisalabad.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the aerobic bacteriological profile of pus samples from complicated wound infections and to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolated organisms in a tertiary care hospital in Faisalabad. Study Design: Retrospective Descriptive study. Setting: Pathology Laboratory, Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad. Period: January to December 2024. Methods: A total of 112 pus samples from patients with complicated wound infections were analyzed. Samples were processed using standard aerobic culture techniques. Bacterial isolates were identified by conventional microbiological methods, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method in accordance with standard guidelines. Results: Out of 112 pus samples, 35 (31.3%) were culture positive. The isolates included Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (3), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (10), coagulase-negative staphylococci (5), Escherichia coli (6), Enterobacter spp. (4), Klebsiella spp. (1), Citrobacter spp. (1), and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (2). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that clindamycin, vancomycin, and linezolid showed high effectiveness against Gram-positive organisms (>95% sensitivity). Among Gram-negative isolates, carbapenems (meropenem 93%, imipenem 90%) and aminoglycosides (87%) were the most effective. Fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and third-generation cephalosporins demonstrated poor efficacy (<30%). Conclusion: Complicated wound infections remain a significant clinical problem, with MRSA contributing substantially to the burden of disease. Carbapenems and aminoglycosides remain valuable therapeutic options for Gram-negative infections. Continuous antimicrobial surveillance and strict stewardship programs are essential to guide effective empiric therapy and curb antimicrobial resistance.