Bacteriological and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Orthopaedic Surgical Site Infections

Background: Orthopedic implant site infection is major component of surgical site infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. Implants are foreign to the body so that orthopedic surgery is at risk of microbiological contamination .The changes in pathogenic flora has lead to emergence of antibiotic resistance creating problems in the management of orthopedic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the type of bacterial pathogens isolated from surgical site infection (SSI) in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital attached to Govt. Medical College, Amritsar and their antibiotic sensitivity profile. Methods: During this period of study from August 2018 to July 2019, 509 pus samples were sent to microbiology department suspected as surgical site infection, from orthopaedic department of Government Medical College, Amritsar. Standard microbiological techniques were used to identify the organisms and determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern as per CLSI guidelines. Results: In the study, out of 397 (77.6%) positive cultures, 109 (27.45%) Gram positive organisms were isolated among whom Staphylococcus aureus 92 (23.17%) was most common and 288 (72.54%) Gram negative organisms were isolated among whom Klebsiella species 90 (22.67 %) was most common isolate. Conclusion: S. aureus is the most common organism responsible for SSIs. Antibiotic preference should be made according to local sensitivity pattern of the hospital.