The distribution and the antimicrobial susceptibility features of microorganisms isolated from the burn wounds; a ten-year retrospective analysis

Abstract

In this study we aimed to evaluate the distribution features and antimicrobial susceptibility test results of the microorganisms isolated from the wounds of pediatric and adult burn patients. The culture and susceptibility test results of the microorganisms isolated from the wound swabs of the patients hospitalised in a tertiary burn care center in 10-years period, were retrospectively screened on the microbiology department databases. Their distribution of isolated microorganisms regarding species and susceptibility test results were compared with previous studies. A total of 367 microorganisms isolated from the burn wounds of 293 patients (13± 18.9 years, F/M: 0.93) (73 adult and 220 pediatric patients), were included in this study. A solitary agent was isolated in 239 (81.6%) patients, while two were isolated in 43 (14.7%) and three or more agents in 11 (3.8%). From these, 33% of the isolated microorganisms were gram positive cocci, 61% were gram negative bacteria and 6% were Candida spp. The most common isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (18.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (16.9) and Escherichia coli (%11.2), while the least common was Streptococcus spp. (2.5%). Methicillin resistance was 15% among the S. aureus strains. No resistance was observed against levofloxacin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, fusidic acid and tigecycline in S. aureus strains. The highest resistance rates were observed against levofloxacin (64%), tobramycin (64%), pip/tazobactam (63%), imipenem (63%), and the lowest against colistin (5%) and ceftazidime (29%), among Pseudomonas spp. The most common causative agents in burn wound infections and their current antimicrobial susceptibility features should be well identified, in order for prevention of serious complications and optimal management the condition to occur.