Original article / research
Bacteriological Profile of Lower Segment Caesarean Section Wound Infection: A Cross-sectional Observational Study
DC14-DC18
Correspondence
Dr. Manjula Vagarali,
Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE
Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi-590010, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: drmanjulavagrali@yahoo.com
Introduction: Postoperative Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) wounds are among the most common Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, leading to increased treatment costs and prolonged hospital stays. Microbiological examination is essential to identify the causative organisms and determine their antimicrobial susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics.
Aim: To determine the bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of pathogens isolated from LSCS wound infections.
Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional observational study conducted from March 2025 to February 2026. The study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, JN Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India and included 85 LSCS wound infection pus samples. The collected pus swabs were inoculated onto blood agar and MacConkey agar for isolation of aerobic bacteria, while aspirates were inoculated onto blood agar enriched with haemin and vitamin K for anaerobic culture. The isolates were identified based on colony morphology and standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates. Demographic details, including age, were recorded and analysed. Frequencies were calculated for categorical variables, and quantitative variables were expressed as mean±Standard Deviation (SD).
Results: A total of 85 patients were included in the study, with ages ranging from 19 to 36 years and a mean age of 26.22±3.54 years. In the present study, Klebsiella pneumoniae 7 (25%) was the most commonly isolated pathogen, followed by Citrobacter freundii 4 (14.3%). Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) demonstrated 3 (100%) sensitivity to linezolid. Among the Gram-negative isolates (n=20), 15 (75%) belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family and showed 15 (100%) resistance to ceftriaxone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed 1 (33.3%) resistance to cefepime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam, while Acinetobacter baumannii showed 2 (100%) resistance to all the antibiotics tested.
Conclusion: LSCS wound infections were predominantly caused by Gram-negative bacteria, including non fermenting organisms. The observed antimicrobial resistance patterns emphasise the need for continuous surveillance and rational antibiotic use. Early identification of pathogens and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are essential for effective management. Implementation of targeted prophylactic strategies may help reduce the incidence of LSCS wound infections.