Staphylococcus Aureus Burn Wound Infection Among Patients Attending Yekatit 12 Hospital Burn Unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Burns provide a suitable site for bacterial multiplication and are more persistent richer sources of infection than surgical wounds. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most frequently isolated pathogens in both community and hospital practices. The objective of this study was to address the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. aureus isolated from burn wound infections in Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. METHODS: This study was Cross-sectional, prospective study conducted from March to May 2011. Burn wound pus sample was collected by using convenient sampling method for culture and drug sensitivity tests were performed according to the WHO standards. RESULTS: Out of 114 patients, bacterial infection was observed in 95(83.3%) of which, 66 (69.5%) had S. aureus infection. Overall prevalence of S. aureus isolation was 57.8%. Most of them were sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, Kanamycin and Erythromycin, but highly resistant to penicillin G. All isolates were found to be multi drug resistant, and one isolate was resistant to all the tested drugs. CONCLUSION: The current study is highly important and informative for the high level of multi-drug resistant S. aureus isolates in burn patients. Finally, strict consideration for s. aureus infection and proper usage of antibiotic policy are recommended in decreasing the incidence and occurrence of multidrug resistant S. aureus infections in Yekatit 12 Hospitals.