Analysis of clinical characteristics, pathogen infection, and drug sensitivity of Marine injury patients: A cross-sectional study

The infection rate is high in patients injured at sea, and because of the unique distribution of marine microorganisms, the infection is often not easily controlled effectively with the empirical application of antibiotics. This study aims to consider the clinical characteristics and pathogen infection and drug susceptibility of patients injured at sea. From 2019 to 2021, there were 635 patients injured at sea in Rizhao People’s Hospital. We assess the patient’s basic condition, while performing bacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing on wound exudate or pus from infected patients. Among the 635 patients injured at sea, 195 people were infected, and the infection rate was 30.71%. Infected patients are usually older, have longer prehospital visits, and have lower normal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin. The causes of injury in infected patients were mainly avulsion and puncture injuries, and the types of injuries were mainly bone fracture, vascular injury, and nerve injury. A total of 305 strains of pathogenic bacteria were cultured in 195 patients. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 77.05% (235 strains), of which Proteus was the most. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 22.95% (70 strains), of which Staphylococcus aureus was the most. Gram-negative bacilli were sensitive to aminoglycosides, lactam antibiotics, carbapenems antibiotics, sulfonamides, quinolones, fourth-generation cephalosporins, and antibacterial drugs containing enzyme inhibitors, while most of the bacteria were resistant to penicillins, first-generation cephalosporins, and second-generation cephalosporins. Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to quinuptin/dafoptin, rifampicin, linezolid, gentamicin, tigacycline, and vancomycin but resistant to penicillin antibiotics. Due to the particularity of marine injuries, patients are prone to infection. Pathogen culture and drug sensitivity analysis play an important role in guiding antiinfective treatment for marine injured patients.