Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns for Bacteria Isolated From Infected Wounds in Patients Attending Mbale Regional Referral Hospital

Background: Approximately eight million people worldwide are estimated to have wounds, both infected and uninfected, with wound infections causing considerable illness and death. In Uganda, a notable prevalence of wound sepsis has been reported in the western region, along with a significant level of antibiotic resistance. Methods: a laboratory based descriptive cross-sectional study where 210 wound swab samples were collected, cultured which employed quantitative data collection method and analysis. Sample size 210 determined using Kish and Leslie formula (1965). Wound sample swaps collected, cultured, microscopic and antibiotic susceptibility testing done. Data analyzed using STATA version 12 software. Results: 41.9% (88/210) of the tested samples had bacterial growth of which 36.4% (32/88) had Staphylococcus spp, 25.0% (22/88) had Escherichia coli and 15.9% (14/88) had Klebsiella spp. Acinetobacter baumanii was the least observed in only 1.1% (1/88) samples. 16.2% (34/210) of the samples had gram positive bacteria, only 25.7% (54/210) had gram negative bacteria. There was no observed bacterial growth in 58.1% (122/210) of the analyzed samples. More than a third 37.5% (12/32) were Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 62.5% (20/32) were Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolates bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Klebsiella spp , were identified as the major culprits behind wound infections.