BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION AMONG POSTOPERATIVE PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NANDED.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advances made in asepsis, antimicrobial drugs, sterilization and operative techniques, surgical site infections(SSI) continue to be a major problem in all branches of surgery in the hospitals. Based on the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance, SSIs are the third most frequently reported nosocomial infections. The incidence of nosocomial infections is about 5-10% in most developed nations while in India, one in four patients admitted in to hospital acquire nosocomial infection. The incidence of Surgical Site Infection Rate in India ranges from 4.04% to 30%. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out in terms of 1) Providing up-to-date information on frequently isolated aerobic bacterial species from patients with postsurgical site infection. 2) Providing clinicians with the best antimicrobial agents to which the organisms are susceptible. 3) Providing baseline information for further detailed and large epidemiological and drug resistance investigations in attempt to develop comprehensive treatment protocol. MATERIALS ANS METHODS: The present study was conducted in Department of Microbiology at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College. The study group included all post operative surgical site infections in this hospital and the case selection was carried out after the information collected in laboratory and the wards. The type of wound whether Clean or Clean Contaminated or Contaminated or Dirty were also noted. All the samples were processed without delay using standard microbiological methods. RESULTS and OBSERVATIONS : 880 patients developed Surgical Site Infections. The rate of SSI was observed to be 13.57%. Out of the 620 culture positive cases, 380 (61.29%) were males while 240 (38.70%) were females. SSI rate is more in dirty wounds as compared to contaminated ,clean contaminated and clean wounds. S. aureus 220(35.48%) was the most frequent isolate causing Surgical Site Infections. Other predominant organisms isolated were P. aeruginosa 111(17.9%). S. aureus showed 100% Sensitivity to Linezolid and Vancomycin. A total of 40(18.18%) isolates were detected to be MRSA. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed 100% sensitivity to Imepenem and Piperacillin/Tazobactam CONCLUSION :-Our study reveals that though SSIs have been widely studied since a long time, they still remain as one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in surgically treated patients. The steps taken to reduce SSIs are still not adequate. Proper infection control measures, a sound antibiotic policy and a higher degree of collaboration between Surgeons and Microbiologists should reduce SSIs in the future.