12 Years Analysis of Bacterial Isolates and Their Antibiotics Sensitivity in a Tertiary Care Burns Unit

Abstract

The aim of this study was to review the changes in distribution of bacterial populations and their antibiotic sensitivity over 12 years in a tertiary care burn unit. Understanding the periodic variation of isolated microorganisms and their antibiotic sensitivity helps in selecting the appropriate antimicrobial therapy before culture and sensitivity are reported. It also aids the design of antibiotics protocols. The study was retrospective. The data were obtained from the computerised hospital medical record system and the burn unit records. Overall, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most commonly isolated microorganism followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the genus Acinetobacter. Acinetobacter isolation rose rapidly and became more prevalent than P. aeruginosa over the last three years. Other organisms became isolated more frequently, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, but their overall prevalence was low. Pseudomonas species frequency of isolation declined. P. aeruginosa, MRSA, and other microorganisms showed increasing sensitivity to a number of antibiotics. MRSA remained highly sensitive to vancomycin, and Acinetobacter showed high resistance to all antibiotics tested except colistin. K. pneumoniae was highly resistant to most of the antibiotics tested except the carbapenems, but the resistance to carbapenems increased over time.