Etiology and risk factors of bacterial wound infections

Abstract

Background: Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is a referral center serving patients from Kenya and beyond. There are several departments among them orthopedics which houses many patients with wounds, some of which are infected thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. This research focused on etiology and risk factors of bacterial wound infections in the orthopedics wards. Objective: To assess the factors that contribute to wound infections. The specific factors assessed were prevalence of aerobic bacteria. use of antibiotics and clinical practices among the nurses when dressing wounds. :VIethods: A descriptive research design was used and target populations were nurses and hospitalized patients in the department of orthopedics at KNH. Sixteen nurses and one hundred and fifteen patients were selected using simple random sampling and convenience sampling techniques respectively. Data was collected using a questionnaire and specimens taken from wounds analyzed in microbiology laboratories ofUON and KNH. Results: The prevalence of bacteria isolated was; Pseudomonas spp. (42.6%). Proteus spp. (33.9%). Staphylococcus aureus (33%). Klebsiella spp. (7.9%), Streptococcus faecalis (6.1%), Enterbacter spp. (2.6%), Alcaligenes spp. (1.7%), Citrobacter freundii (0.9%), Serratia spp. (0.9%), and Acinetobacter baumanii (0.9%). The sensitivity patterns were as follows: Pseudomonas spp.; Pipril/Tozabactam (89.9%), Meropenem (75.5%). Gentamycin (55.1%), Amikacin (73.5%), Ceftazidime (82.6%), Ceftriaxone (30.6%), TicatcilliniClavulonic acid (65.3%) and Piperacillin (83.7%). Proteus spp.: Ceftazidime (89.7%), Ceftriaxone (79.5%), Ciprofloxacin (87.2%), Augmentin (76.9°/0). Cefuroxime (61.5%). Piperaciliin H8.7%)"Gentamycin (-1-6.2%)