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Margaret Muiyuro

 

Margaret Muiyuro

The Nairobi Hospital, Kenya.

Abstract Title:Incidence of Surgical Site Infections, Bacterial Isolates, and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns Among Patients Who Underwent Surgery at a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya.

Biography:

Research Interest: Background: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are the third most commonly reported nosocomial infections, with significant adverse impacts on both patients and healthcare institutions. Approximately 0.5%–3% of surgical patients experience infections at or near the surgical site (Jessica L. et al., 2023). Continuous surveillance is essential to monitor and mitigate the occurrence of SSIs. Methodology: A retrospective evaluation of documented SSIs was conducted using records from January 2022 to April 2024. The study included 15,228 cases of general surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. Swabs collected from infected surgical wounds were processed using conventional microbiological methods to identify bacterial isolates and assess their antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: • Patient Profile: The average age of SSI patients was 53 years. Females (32) were twice as affected as males (16). • Onset: SSIs were reported, on average, 11 days post-surgery. • Surgical Type: Elective surgeries (46 cases) outnumbered emergency surgeries (2 cases). • Bacterial Isolates: The most common organisms identified were Escherichia coli (38%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (21%), Enterobacter cloacae (8%), MRSA (6%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (6%), Enterococcus species (6%), Staphylococcus aureus (4%), Morganella (2%), Pseudomonas (2%), and Burkholderia cepacia (2%). • Antimicrobial Susceptibility: Resistance was highest against Ampicillin (16 cases), followed by macrolides (8), cephalosporins (3), and other ampicillin formulations (2). • Incidence: The overall incidence of SSIs was 0.32%. Conclusions: The study identified a moderate rate of SSIs with a significant bacterial burden and antibiotic resistance profile. Periodic surveillance of SSIs, bacterial isolates, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns is crucial. Emphasis on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care is critical for preventing SSIs.