Characterization of Bacterial Spectrum and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Wound Infections from a Chinese Hospital.

Background: Wound infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria challenge treatment and infection control, particularly in healthcare settings of underdeveloped regions, such as Shantou. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed bacterial spectrum and antimicrobial resistance patterns of wound isolates collected from January 2015 to December 2023 at the Skin and Venereal Disease Prevention and Control Hospital, Shantou, China. Patient data (type, age, sex, infection site) were extracted independently by two researchers. Bacteria were identified using the MALDI Biotyper System or VITEK 2 COMPACT System. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism 8.0.2, using the chi-square test for comparisons; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 790 wound specimens were processed using standard microbiological techniques. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent pathogen (39.4%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.89%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (6.21%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (5.88%) and Escherichia coli (5.21%). Of these, male patients accounted for 363 of 420 (86.4%) cases, more than females, who accounted for 232 of 370 (62.7%). The highest incidence occurred in the 2-17-year age group (25.0%), followed by those aged 51-60 years (14.9%). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production was noted in 41.9% of E. coli and 29.7% of K. pneumoniae. Among the Gram-positive multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, S. haemolyticus (91.8%), S. epidermidis (91.4%), and S. aureus (73.9%) were the most resistant. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 68.5% of S. aureus, with high resistance to penicillin (97.3%) and erythromycin (73.5%). MR-CoNS, mainly S. epidermidis, was resistant to erythromycin (88.5%) and oxacillin (77.1%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of MRSA (68.5%) and MDR S. aureus (73.6%) may reflect widespread antibiotic misuse, emphasizing the need for culture-guided therapy and robust antibiotic stewardship.