Bacterial spectrum and antimicrobial resistance patterns in pus isolates from a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Wound infections are a major cause of morbidity in healthcare settings, exacerbated by increasing antimicrobial resistance. Timely identification of causative organisms and their resistance patterns is essential for effective management. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in which 665 pus samples collected between September 2022 and February 2023 and analysed. Standard microbiological techniques were used for isolation and identification, and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method following CLSI guidelines. Results: Of 665 samples, 404 (60.7%) were culture-positive. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (47.5%). Gram-negative isolates, including E. coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and non-fermenters, exhibited varying resistance patterns, with particularly low susceptibility to carbapenems among non-fermenters. Conclusion: The study highlights the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms in wound infections, especially among non-fermenters, emphasizing the urgent need for routine surveillance and rational antibiotic use.