Bacteriology of the burn wound at the Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital for children, Mumbai, India-A 21 year study of predominant Pseudomonas species.

This study aims to assess the change in the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Pseudomonas species with time. Microbiological data of 2399 patients admitted to the burns unit of the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai over a period of 21 years (1994-2014) was reviewed. The age group of patients admitted to our facility ranged from one month to fifteen years. A total of 11,402 burn wound swabs were cultured and 17507 isolates were tested for their antibiotic sensitivity. Pseudomonas was found to be 31.8% of the total number of isolates found on the burn wound which is second in line to Klebsiella species at our unit. It was found that the sensitivity of Pseudomonas species to various antibiotics tested has been restricted to very few antibiotics. The organism out plays most of the antibiotics that it is subjected to in vitro. Our efforts should now be channelized towards limiting the use of antibiotics. We must focus on preparing proper antibiotic policy which exercises control of irrelevant and excessive use of antibiotics. It should also be noted that every treatment facility has microorganisms unique to it and these change with time. It is, therefore of paramount importance to have an in-depth knowledge of the resident organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity. This will not only help to control infection related morbidity and mortality but will also curb the growing resistance to antibiotics.