Beyond the venom: A retrospective look at bacterial infections in snakebite wounds

Snakebite envenomation is considered a Neglected Tropical Disease by the WHO and can lead to several deaths.

The considerable variety of pathogens and the complications arising from snakebite cases emphasize the significance of definitive pathogen identification in each case, ensuring prompt and appropriate antibiotic therapy and reducing the risk of secondary infections.

To study the patient demographics, clinical profiles, and the spectrum of bacterial pathogens associated with various types of snakebite envenomation.

Demographic information, clinical presentations, microbiological isolates, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns were retrospectively collected from the records of patients with snakebites over a 6-year study period, spanning January 2019 to December 2024.

In this study, the majority of snakebite victims were male (64%). Hemotoxic envenomation accounted for 64% of the cases. Bacterial growth at the wound site was observed in 78% of patients, with Serratia marcescens being the most frequently isolated pathogen (24%). Additionally, acute kidney injury (AKI) was present in 49% of the cases. Most of the isolates showed susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics.

Implementing an early and planned antibiotic policy targeting drug-resistant microorganisms associated with snake bites can significantly enhance patient care in the future.