Evaluation of bacterial flora in patients after intraabdominal surgical procedures throughout a 12 year period

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to analyse the composition of the bacterial flora in 295 patients who underwent surgical treatment in our clinic throughout the period of 12 years. 448 specimens were bacteriologically examined. Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 390 (87.1%). Among aerobic bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis was the most often isolated (35.6% - from the peritoneum, 17.8% from the wound). Among anaerobic bacteria, Bacteroides fragilis - 44.9% were the most often isolated. 530 aerobic bacterial strains from Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus and the nonfermentable rods were carefully analysed. Special attention was paid to the development of the resistance to 3 antibiotics (cefoperazone, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin) in 3 time periods: from 1984 to 1987, from 1988 to 1992 and from 1993 to 1996. Resistance of the bacterial strains to cefoperazone was 38.7% in the first time period; 39.5% in the second; and later increased to 53.8%. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was identical in the first two periods - 10.3%; and subsequently, it increased to 22.6%. The increase of resistance to gentamycin was the most significant--it went up from 24.5% to 44.8 and then dropped to 40.3%. CONCLUSION: Constant monitoring of the bacterial flora enables rational antibiotic application, which is essential due to the observed increase of bacteria strain resistance.