Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Surgical Wound Infections at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano

The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms in surgical wound infections represents a critical threat to patient safety and a growing challenge for surgical antibiotic stewardship in Nigerian hospitals. This study evaluates the antimicrobial resistance patterns of organisms isolated from surgical wound infections at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano State, North West Nigeria, from 2021 to 2023. A laboratory-based descriptive study was conducted, reviewing culture and sensitivity reports of 180 wound swab samples collected from patients with postoperative wound infections. Organisms isolated were identified using standard microbiological methods, and susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most frequently isolated organisms. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in 28% of staphylococcal isolates. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae were found in 34% of gram-negative isolates. Resistance to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole was near universal. Sensitivity to carbapenems and vancomycin was preserved in most isolates. The study recommends urgent implementation of a surgical infection surveillance system, targeted antibiotic stewardship programs, and environmental decolonization measures at the hospital. Regional collaboration on antimicrobial resistance data sharing in North West Nigeria is also advised. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, MRSA, surgical wound, Kano, antibiotic stewardship