Antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates from post-surgical wounds of patients in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan.

: Postoperative wound infections are the infections of the operating site within thirty days after surgery. The infections that develop after surgery are a major problem throughout the world leading to, increased morbidity and mortality. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens causing wound infection in the surgical wards and to determine the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of the isolated bacteria. A total of 250 wound samples were collected over a period of 6 months from July-December, 2016. The pathogenic bacteria were isolated, identified and their antibiotic susceptibility was determined through disc diffusion method. Among 250 cases, 210 (84%) were culture positive for bacterial pathogens, while 40 (16%) were bacteriologically sterile (Negative). Rate of infection was high in males (55.6%) than females (44.4%). The predominant isolates were E.coli 55 (26.19%), followed by S.aureus 51 (24.28%), Pseudomonas spp. 43(20.47%), S.aureus MRSA 21 (10%), Proteus Marbillis 15 (7.14%), E.coli ESBL producer was 8 (3.81%), Acinetobacter 7 (3.33%) Proteus valgaris 5 (2.38%), b-Streptococci 3 (1.43%) and Klebsella pneumonia were the least, 2 (0.95%). Linezolid, Vancomycin, Amoxycillin, Cefoperazone and Meropenem are the most effective antibiotics for treating post-surgical wound infections.