Evaluation of infection agent and antibiotic resistance distribution in palliative care patients with pressure ulcers

INTRODUCTION: In our study, it was aimed to examine the distribution of infectious microorganisms, and antibiotic resistance status in palliative care patients with pressure ulcers followed in Ankara Polatlý Duatepe State Hospital Palliative Care Service in 2019- 2020.
METHODS: The sex, age, and detected diseases of a total of 178 palliative care patients included in our study were analyzed retrospectively. For determining the causative agents of pressure ulcer infections in these patients, Gram staining was performed on the bacterial cultures that developed in the wound samples, and the Vitek-2 (bioMérieux, France) automatic test device was used to identify these cultures and determine their antibiotic susceptibility.
RESULTS: It was observed that the single-agent microorganism grew in 26 of the cultures. When the 26 active microorganisms we detected in the wound culture growths were examined; it was observed that Escherichia coli (n=9, 34.62%) and Proteus mirabilis (n=3, 11.54%) grew more frequently in enteric bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=3, 11.54%) in non-fermentative bacteria. In our study, the absence of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was considered remarkable. In our study, 100% resistance was found to antibiotics such as Ampicillin, Cefepime, Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, and Gentamicin in gram (+) bacteria, while 100% resistance was found against antibiotics such as Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in gram (-) bacteria.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the treatment of infection pressure ulcers, starting antibiotic therapy at the appropriate time and choosing the right antibiotic is one of the most important factors that determine the success of treatment.