ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Post-Operative Wound Infection. Design: Swab samples were collected from patients who had undergone operation, sinks, washbasins, floor and nursing staff within the different wards of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Settings: The samples were obtained from the wards in the hospital and processed in the department of Medical Microbiology of the hospital. Main Outcome Measures: Assessment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an agent of nosocomial infections. Out of the 60 bacterial isolates found in post-operative wound infection, 20 [33.3%] were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Staphylococcus aureus 13 [21.7%], Klebsiella species 10 [16.7%], Escherichia coli 7 [11.7%], Atypical coliform 4 [6.7%], Proteus species 4 [6.7%], Streptococcus pyogenes 1 [1.7%] and Enterococcus faecalis 1 [1.7%] in that order. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was higher in female than male, ratio 3:2 and was found more among young and elderly debilitated patients. The in vitro sensitivity pattern of 20 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed colistin [100%], gentamicin [75%], streptomycin [30%], and tetracycline [10%]. The role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an agent of nosocomial infections is re-emphasised