Emergence of Candida Species among bacterial pathogens recovered from surgical wounds in Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria
Authors: Ogbomo RO ,   Department of Surgery, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria., Otene CI , Borke ME , Oriarewo PO , Eifediyi RA , Inyang NJ , Agwu E ,   Department of Surgery, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.,   Department of Pathology, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.,   Department of Surgery, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.,   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.,   Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria,   Microbiology Department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda.
Published: July 2024

Background: Management of non-healing or delayed healing wounds remains a public challenge especially among patients with an underlying medical condition and with Candida prevalent polymicrobial etiology. Objectives: To outline the polymicrobial nature of surgical wounds in resource-poor settings with an emphasis on Candida, and their implications in the design and implementation of effective intervention. Material and methods: A retrospective study of results of wound swabs sent for microscopy, culture, and sensitivity from June 2010 to May 2014 were retrieved from record books and analyzed. Information retrieved included demographic characteristics of participants, microbial population isolated, and antibacterial susceptibility of patients, Standard method of isolation for recorded Candida and other organisms were obtained from the laboratory standard operating procedures and other laboratory diagnostic guidelines made available during the period covered by the study. Statistical significance of data generated was tested with SPSS version 20. Results: The emergence of Candida species among the bacterial pathogens of wound infections shows changing patterns of disease epidemiology and it has implications for the effective intervention of chronic non-healing or delayed healing wound infection. The commonest bacterial organisms were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, and Proteus species in descending order. Gram-negative enteric bacteria were the commonest open wound pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest gram-positive organism found in open wounds. The least bacterial pathogen was Acinetobacter species and followed by Citrobacter species and Alkaligenes species. The commonest antibiotics that the bacteria were sensitive to were Ceftazidime, Gentamicin, Ofloxacin, Augmentin, and Cefotaxime. Conclusion: The emergence of Candida species among bacterial agents shows a paradigm shift in routine and complicated wound management and has implications for effective intervention. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria play active roles in the infection of wounds in our environment, the commonest organisms being Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Key Words: Aerobic bacteria, Open Surgical wounds, Isolates.