BURDEN OF METHICIILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) & METALLO-BETALACTAMASE PRODUCING PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA (MBL-PS.) AMONG ORGANISMS CAUSING SURGICAL SITE INFECTION AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN

Introduction: Hospital acquired infections (HAI) have always been a menacing problem for healthcare providers; with surgical site infections (SSI) being a major contributor to it. The incidence of MRSA and MBL-Ps. have been steadily increasing over the past few years resulting in limitation of therapeutic options available for patients with SSIs. This study was undertaken to detect MRSA among the Staphylococcus aureus i Objective: solates and MBL production among pseudomonas isolates from clinically diagnosed cases of SSI at a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: This study, conducted in Department of Microbiology, JLN Medical College, Ajmer from November 2022 to April 2023, included 246 patients clinically diagnosed wth SSI. Samples were processed as per standard microbiological techniques (CLSI2022 /M100-Ed32). Staphylococcus aureus when isolated was studied for MRSA using cefoxitin disc diffusion test and pseudomonas isolates were screened for MBL production using imipenem-EDTA combined disc test respectively. The study was approved by our Institutional Ethical Committee. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel, SPSS version 20 Windows software program. Among 246 clinically suspected patients Results: from total 1950 registered cases, 220 were culture positive accounting for prevalence 12.61%. MRSA and MBL production was observed in 44.44% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates & 21.87% of all Pseudomonas isolates respectively. T Conclusion: he prevention of SSI encompasses meticulous operative technique and a variety of preventive measures aimed at neutralizing the threat of bacterial, viral, and fungal contamination posed by operative staff, the operating room environment, and the patient's endogenous skin ora.