INCIDENCES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES IN SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS-PROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM TERTIARY CARE CENTER, COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU

Objective: Surgical site infection (SSIs) is of great importance to regulatory agencies and public because of their clinical implication and occurrence. Human skin is populated with normal bacterial flora, which also gains access during immunocompromised state causing infection. This present study focuses on surveillance of SSIs with emphases over Staphylococcus species infection among patients from tertiary care centers of Coimbatore, TamilNadu, India.Methods: Clinical samples were collected and plated on mannitol salt agar (MSA) medium for isolation of Staphylococcus species. Furthermore, other conventional methods like Gram staining, catalase reaction were also performed in strict aseptic conditions with standard microbiological procedures for sample processing.Results: A total of 221 samples were collected and processed which resulted in 42.08% positivity with 59.13% Gram positive strains. Staphylococcus species were more prevalent in the Gram positive isolates, where other Gram negative microorganisms such as E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, M. morganii, E. faecalis, Enterobacter species, A. baumanii, S. marcescens and P. mirabilis were also isolated. The antibiogram pattern of the Staphylococcus species revealed resistance to antibiotics.Conclusion: This study has shown the prevalence of Staphylococcus species among SSIs, implicating the importance of further extended surveillance for better understanding of the prevalence rate and antimicrobial resistance pattern.Â