Abstract

To isolate and identify the bacteria in open fractures and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates. Methods: A prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital of rural India. The study was carried out on 100 patients of all age groups presenting with open fractures at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana between March 2021 and September 2022. Two wound swabs, (one for culture and other for microscopy) and tissue specimens were collected to isolate and identify the bacteria causing infection in open fractures. All the bacterial isolates were then subjected to antibiotic sensitivity. Results: The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Significant growth was reported in 46% of the debridement samples. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated in 30% of cultures, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 22% of the cultures. In the post operative follow up period, 40 % of the patients reported significant growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism isolated in 28% of cultures in follow up period. Among gram positive organisms, Staphylococcus aureus was 77% susceptible to Amikacin & 68% susceptible to Erythromycin. Gram negative organisms like Enterobacteriaceae were 100% susceptible to Imipenem, 71% susceptible to Amikacin and 71% to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: Initial contamination in open fractures is by both gram positive and gram-negative organisms with Staphylococcus aureus being commonest. Broad spectrum antibiotics like ciprofloxacin along with amikacin form cornerstone therapy for prevention of infection.

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