Abstract:

Infections by antibiotic-resistant pathogens are known to be the most challenging factor that can impair wound healing. Early detection and effective diagnosis contribute to appropriate therapeutic interventions, which significantly lead to successful treatment outcomes in non-healing wounds. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate resistance patterns as well as characteristics of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Multi-drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA) isolated from skin wounds of patients in the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Cultural and biochemical characterizations of the isolates were, therefore, carried out. Results of the biochemical tests confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Antibiotic disk diffusion method was adopted for antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) on the isolates. Based on inhibition zone diameters obtained, various degrees of resistance (50 ‒ 100 %) as well as susceptibility (40 ‒ 70 %) of the organisms were recorded against the test antibiotics. This showed that there was high prevalence of MRSA and MDR-PA strains among the wound pathogens in that part of the country. From the findings, it could be inferred that the occurrence of multi-drug resistant pathogens would contribute significantly to poor clinical responses to wound treatments with antibiotics.