Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Bacteria Isolated from Wound Infections at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Wound infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and prolonged hospital stay in Nigerian tertiary health institutions, with increasing antimicrobial resistance complicating clinical management. This study characterized bacteria isolated from surgical and traumatic wound infections and determined their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, in the North West geopolitical zone. A total of 120 wound swab samples were collected from consenting patients between March and July 2024. Isolation and identification of organisms were performed using conventional cultural and biochemical methods. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to assess antibiotic susceptibility, interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2023 guidelines. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate, with 35.8 percent of recovered organisms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli were also commonly isolated. A high rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was documented at 28 percent of S. aureus isolates. Multi-drug resistance was observed in 61 percent of all isolates. Imipenem and vancomycin showed the highest sensitivity rates overall. These results highlight the critical need for rational antibiotic prescribing policies and improved infection prevention measures at ABUTH. The establishment of an active antimicrobial stewardship program is urgently recommended. Keywords: wound infection, antibiotic susceptibility, MRSA, Zaria, antimicrobial resistance.