Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Bacteria Isolated from PusWound Swab Samples from Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract EN

In Nepal, little is known about the microbiological profile of wound infections in children and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

Total of 450 pus/wound swab samples collected were cultured using standard microbiological techniques and the colonies grown were identified with the help of biochemical tests.

The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected by using cefoxitin disc and confirmed by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of oxacillin.

264 (59%) samples were culture positive.

The highest incidence of bacterial infections was noted in the age group of less than 1 year (76%).

Out of 264 growth positive samples, Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from 162 (61%) samples and Gram-negative bacteria were found in 102 (39%) samples.

Staphylococcus aureus (99%) was the predominant Gram-positive bacteria isolated and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (44%) was predominant Gram-negative bacteria.

About 19% of S.

aureus isolates were found to be methicillin-resistant MIC of oxacillin ranging from 4 μg/mL to 128 μg/mL.

Among the children of Nepal, those of age less than 1 year were at higher risk of wound infections by bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common bacteria causing wound infections in children.