Chronic leg ulcer patients in outpatient treatment: analysis of microbiological and antimicrobial susceptibility - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v9i3.8178

Abstract

The occurrence of microorganisms in chronic wounds vary geographically and antimicrobial susceptibility requires close monitoring to provide information that may support and offer therapeutic options to assist individuals with chronic injuries. The objective of this study was to isolate and to identify microorganisms from chronic leg ulcers in outpatients and to verify the antimicrobial susceptibility of etiological agents. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Basic Health Units of Goiania, with 24 hours attendance. Data were collected through structured interview and a check-list containing clinical signs and symptoms indicative of infection and sample collected by swab and Levine technique. Data collection was performed from June to July 2007. Took part on the study 46 patients totaling 60 wounds. Among the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus were predominant, present in 65% of cases and were sensitive to most antibiotics tested. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, the most frequent were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.35), resistant to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, cephalexin and cefotaxime; Proteus mirabilis (16.6%) and Proteus vulgaris (15.0%) all sensitive to gentamicin, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin and amikacin. The characterization of the isolates indicate the need for monitoring of the agents because the possibility of spreading, outbreaks and infections by these bacteria.