Background: Wound infections significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs globally. The Kashmir Valley's unique geographical and climatic conditions, coupled with resource constraints and antibiotic misuse, complicate managing these infections effectively. This study aimed to identify predominant bacterial pathogens in wound infections at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and estimate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2023 at the Government Medical College, Srinagar. Pus samples from wound infections were aseptically collected and processed following standard microbiological protocols. Antibiotic susceptibility testing utilized the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, adhering to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics. Results: Out of 4,378 samples analyzed, bacterial growth was observed in 1,921 samples, representing 43.9% of the total. Among the bacterial isolates, Gram-negative bacilli accounted for 73.5%, with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent at 27.9%. Among Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus predominated, comprising 25.9% of the isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus exhibited 100% susceptibility to linezolid but low susceptibility to erythromycin (27.0%) and clindamycin (24.0%). E. coli demonstrated high susceptibility to tigecycline (97.4%) and amikacin (75.0%), but lower susceptibility to imipenem (45.0%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (57.8%). Conclusion The substantial wound infection burden and high MDR prevalence in Kashmir necessitate comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programs. Regular surveillance, education, and research are crucial to address antibiotic resistance and ensure effective wound infection management in the region.

Background: Wound infections significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs globally. The Kashmir Valley's unique geographical and climatic conditions, coupled with resource constraints and antibiotic misuse, complicate managing these infections effectively. This study aimed to identify predominant bacterial pathogens in wound infections at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and estimate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2023 at the Government Medical College, Srinagar. Pus samples from wound infections were aseptically collected and processed following standard microbiological protocols. Antibiotic susceptibility testing utilized the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, adhering to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics. Results: Out of 4,378 samples analyzed, bacterial growth was observed in 1,921 samples, representing 43.9% of the total. Among the bacterial isolates, Gram-negative bacilli accounted for 73.5%, with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent at 27.9%. Among Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus predominated, comprising 25.9% of the isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus exhibited 100% susceptibility to linezolid but low susceptibility to erythromycin (27.0%) and clindamycin (24.0%). E. coli demonstrated high susceptibility to tigecycline (97.4%) and amikacin (75.0%), but lower susceptibility to imipenem (45.0%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (57.8%). Conclusion The substantial wound infection burden and high MDR prevalence in Kashmir necessitate comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programs. Regular surveillance, education, and research are crucial to address antibiotic resistance and ensure effective wound infection management in the region.

Background: Wound infections significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs globally. The Kashmir Valley's unique geographical and climatic conditions, coupled with resource constraints and antibiotic misuse, complicate managing these infections effectively. This study aimed to identify predominant bacterial pathogens in wound infections at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and estimate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2023 at the Government Medical College, Srinagar. Pus samples from wound infections were aseptically collected and processed following standard microbiological protocols. Antibiotic susceptibility testing utilized the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, adhering to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics. Results: Out of 4,378 samples analyzed, bacterial growth was observed in 1,921 samples, representing 43.9% of the total. Among the bacterial isolates, Gram-negative bacilli accounted for 73.5%, with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent at 27.9%. Among Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus predominated, comprising 25.9% of the isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus exhibited 100% susceptibility to linezolid but low susceptibility to erythromycin (27.0%) and clindamycin (24.0%). E. coli demonstrated high susceptibility to tigecycline (97.4%) and amikacin (75.0%), but lower susceptibility to imipenem (45.0%) and piperacillin-tazobactam (57.8%). Conclusion The substantial wound infection burden and high MDR prevalence in Kashmir necessitate comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programs. Regular surveillance, education, and research are crucial to address antibiotic resistance and ensure effective wound infection management in the region.

Background: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is one of the most daunting challenges a physician faces in such settings. Among AUFI, rickettsial infections are most common and related infections (such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Q fever) which are caused by an unusual type of bacteria that can live only inside the cells of another organism. The present study was therefore planned with an objective to estimate the prevalence of rickettsial infection among patients of undifferentiated fever and to determine any association of socio-demographic characteristics with rickettsial disease. Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with febrile illness and admitted or attending out-patient department of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar was approached and recruited in the study. Weil Felix Assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay were done to detect the anti-rickettsial antibodies. Serological evidence of a fourfold increase in IgG-specific antibody titer reactive with spotted fever group rickettsial antigen by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assays between paired serum specimens was considered a confirmatory diagnosis for the rickettsial disease. Results: Most of the patients were males 61.6%, and most 46.2% were in the age group of 20 -39 years. Most of the patients, 80.8% belonged to rural areas, and 48% belonged to the upper middle (II) class of the socio-economic class according to modified Kuppuswamy scale. Of the studied participants, a majority, 47.0%, were determined undiagnosed, while 15.4% studied participants were diagnosed to have a rickettsial disease. In patients positive for typhus group, 67.8% were IgM positive, 28.5% were IgG positive, and only 3% were positive for IgM and IgG. In patients positive for Scrub Typhus Group, 32.7% were positive for IgM, and 62.0% were positive for IgG, and only 5.0% were positive for both IgM and IgG. In patients positive for spotted fever group, 36.1% were positive for IgM, and 58.5% were positive for IgG, and only 5.5% were positive for both IgM and IgG. The prevalence of rickettsial disease was found to be 11.3%. Conclusion Rickettsial diseases, typhoid and brucellosis, were the most prevalent diseased diagnosed among patients reporting to hospitals with undifferentiated febrile illness.Clinicians must consider rickettsial diseases as one of the differential diagnosis while treating patients with fever.

Background: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is one of the most daunting challenges a physician faces in such settings. Among AUFI, rickettsial infections are most common and related infections (such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Q fever) which are caused by an unusual type of bacteria that can live only inside the cells of another organism. The present study was therefore planned with an objective to estimate the prevalence of rickettsial infection among patients of undifferentiated fever and to determine any association of socio-demographic characteristics with rickettsial disease. Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with febrile illness and admitted or attending out-patient department of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar was approached and recruited in the study. Weil Felix Assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay were done to detect the anti-rickettsial antibodies. Serological evidence of a fourfold increase in IgG-specific antibody titer reactive with spotted fever group rickettsial antigen by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assays between paired serum specimens was considered a confirmatory diagnosis for the rickettsial disease. Results: Most of the patients were males 61.6%, and most 46.2% were in the age group of 20 -39 years. Most of the patients, 80.8% belonged to rural areas, and 48% belonged to the upper middle (II) class of the socio-economic class according to modified Kuppuswamy scale. Of the studied participants, a majority, 47.0%, were determined undiagnosed, while 15.4% studied participants were diagnosed to have a rickettsial disease. In patients positive for typhus group, 67.8% were IgM positive, 28.5% were IgG positive, and only 3% were positive for IgM and IgG. In patients positive for Scrub Typhus Group, 32.7% were positive for IgM, and 62.0% were positive for IgG, and only 5.0% were positive for both IgM and IgG. In patients positive for spotted fever group, 36.1% were positive for IgM, and 58.5% were positive for IgG, and only 5.5% were positive for both IgM and IgG. The prevalence of rickettsial disease was found to be 11.3%. Conclusion Rickettsial diseases, typhoid and brucellosis, were the most prevalent diseased diagnosed among patients reporting to hospitals with undifferentiated febrile illness.Clinicians must consider rickettsial diseases as one of the differential diagnosis while treating patients with fever.