War impact on antimicrobial resistance and bacteriological profile of wound infections in Ukraine

This study investigated the impact of war on wound infections and antimicrobial resistance in 73 Ukrainian soldiers treated in civilian hospitals between January and April 2024. Bacteria were isolated in over half the samples, with gram-negative bacilli predominating, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii (36%), alongside Enterococcus faecalis (12%) and Bacillus cereus (12%). Alarmingly, 84.6% of isolates were multidrug-resistant, with resistance more common in gram-negative than gram-positive strains. The findings highlight how combat-related wounds foster infections dominated by multidrug-resistant pathogens, complicating treatment, delaying healing, and increasing the risk of resistance spread in healthcare settings.