Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infection constitutes a major public health problem worldwide.
Increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogens associated with nosocomial infections also becomes a major
therapeutic challenge for physicians. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify post operative bacterial
infections and determine their current antimicrobial resistance to commonly prescribed drugs.
METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on patients under gone operation from October 2010
to January 2011 and followed for development of clinical signs and symptoms of surgical site and blood
stream infection until the time of discharge. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio
demographic characteristics. Wound swab and venous blood samples were collected and processed for
bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing following standard bacteriological techniques.
RESULTS: Out of 294 patients who had clean and clean-contaminated operation, 10.9% were
confirmed of bacterial nosocomial infections. The rate of nosocomial infections among clean and cleancontaminated operations was 3.3% and 12.8% respectively. Nosocomial surgical site and blood stream
infection rate was 10.2% and 2.4% correspondingly. A total of 42 bacterial pathogens were identified of
which S. aureus was the leading isolates accounting 26.2% followed by E. coli and Coagulase negative
Staphylococcus species each 21.4%. Nearly 100% of Gram positive and 95.5% of Gram negative
bacterial isolates showed resistance against two or more antimicrobial drugs.
CONCLUSIONS: Multiple drug resistance of isolates to antimicrobials was alarmingly high so that any
empirical prophylaxis and treatment needs careful selection of effective drugs. To minimize such
infections, adherence of strict aseptic surgical procedures and proper management of wounds is
required
