Prevalence and susceptibility pattern of anaerobic bacteria isolated from wound swabs in Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo

Objectives: Anaerobic bacteria may cause numerous infections in different locations through human body. Those infections can be life-threatening with significant mortality. Wounds represent a suitable habitat for colonization of anaerobic bacteria. Their proliferation contributes to moist and warm environment, hypoxic and necrotic tissue.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo from 2015-2017. The study involved wound swab samples, sampled from hospitalized patients. The anaerobic bacteria were isolated using standard procedures.Results: During the period from 01.01.2015. to 31.12.2017, 8386 samples were analyzed on anaerobic bacteria and 872 (10.4%) of specimen were positive. In 2015, 332 (15%) specimens were positive, while during 2016 and 2017, 244 (7,8%) and 296 (9.9%) respectively. Bacteroides spp. was the most common isolate during three year period: 2015-227 (55.5%); 2016-139 (48%); 2017-161 (42,5%). It was followed by Peptococcus spp.: 2015-70 (17.1%); 2016-40 (13.9%); 2017-66 (17.4%), Clostridium spp.: 2015 – 32 (7.8%); 2016-21 (7.3%); 2017- 35 (9.2%), Fusobacterium spp.: 2015 – 49 (11.9%); 2016-32 (11.1%); 2017- 45 (11.9%).VITEK 2 Compact has identified to the level of species 48 isolates which were in pure culture.The largest number of anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the samples received from the Abdominal surgery. The overview of antimicrobial sensitivity showed highest sensitivity to metronidazole (99,9%) and carbapenems (99,9%), respectively.Conclusions The most commonly isolated anaerobic bacteria was Bacteroides spp.Highest number of positive isolates was from abdominal surgery since intra-abdominal infections reflect the microflora of the resected organ. Metronidazole remains the antibiotic of choice in the treatment of anaerobic infections.