Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens from postoperative surgical site infections in a tertiary care centre in India

This study investigated bacterial pathogens causing surgical site infections (SSIs) in 104 postoperative patients. Bacterial growth was found in 92% of samples, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (13.1%) being the most common pathogens. Worryingly, around one-third of these isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Antibiotic testing showed that S. aureus was fully sensitive to linezolid and mostly to tetracycline, while P. aeruginosa responded best to ofloxacin and piperacillin. The study underscores the urgent need for continuous antimicrobial resistance surveillance to ensure effective treatment of SSIs and limit the spread of resistant strains.