title: Risk factors for wound infection in health care facilities in Buea, Cameroon: aerobic bacterial pathogens and antibiogram of isolates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wound infection is a significant clinical challenge in hospitals in developing countries where proper healthcare delivery is hampered by limited resources. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria causing wound infection and risk factors for infection among hospitalized patients in Buea, Cameroon, to generate findings which could drive reformation of policies on infection control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 212 swabs collected from patients with clinically diagnosed infected wounds. Risk factors for wound infection were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined by disk diffusion technique. The Chi-square test was employed to determine significant differences in isolation and distribution of organisms in various specimens. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve bacteria species were isolated from 169 (79.7%) specimens. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the predominant isolates in all wound types exhibited a high preponderance of multidrug resistant strains. High rate of infection was attributed to lack of constant water supply and breakdown of sterilization equipment during the study period. Highest diversity of pathogens occurred in open wounds. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in isolation of pathogens with respect to age, gender and wound type. Co-existing morbidity increased risk of wound infection. Isolates were susceptible to fluoroquinolones and resistant to oxacillin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wound infection with resistant bacteria constitutes a significant cause of morbidity in the study area. Findings reiterate the need to strengthen infection control and drug dispensing policies, and greater collaboration between microbiologists and medical practioners to stem the spread of resistant bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Akoachere Jane-Francis Tatah
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kihla
authors.affiliation: Department of clinical science, Faculty of health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Palle John
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ngunde
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Mbianda Soupsop
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Evelyn
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Nkwelang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Roland Ndip
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ndip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Cameroon; Wound infection; antibiotic susceptibility; bacterial pathogens; co-morbidity