Antiseptic compounds still active against bacterial strains isolated from surgical wound infections despite...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Nosocomial surgical wound infections pose a significant clinical challenge.
• Increasing antibiotic resistance in pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa complicates treatment.
• Effective antiseptic use is crucial for infection control in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of povidone iodine, potassium peroxymonosulfate, and dimethyldidecylammonium chloride.
• To assess antiseptic susceptibility in nosocomial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa over a six-year period.
• To determine if increasing antibiotic resistance correlates with changes in antiseptic susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• Collected 379 nosocomial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from surgical wound infections (July 1995 - June 2001).
• Determined the in vitro activity of three common antiseptics against these isolates.
• Compared antiseptic susceptibility across the six-year study duration.

Main Results:

• All tested isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were inhibited by the antiseptics at sub-routine concentrations.
• No significant variation in antiseptic susceptibility was observed over the six-year study period.
• Antiseptic efficacy remained consistent despite documented increases in antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

• Povidone iodine, potassium peroxymonosulfate, and dimethyldidecylammonium chloride demonstrate consistent in vitro effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• These antiseptics remain a reliable option for managing surgical wound infections caused by these pathogens, irrespective of rising antibiotic resistance.
• Continued surveillance of antiseptic susceptibility is recommended to ensure ongoing efficacy in clinical practice.