HEALTH CHALLENGES OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM WOUND OF PATIENTS ATTENDING GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN KOGI STATE, NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

The study highlighted wounds as ranking high among the major problems in our health care delivery systems. Wound bacteria are the most common hospital acquired infections resulting in prolonged hospital stay with its subsequent high cost. This study was aimed to determine bacterial pathogens responsible for wound infections amongst patients attending government hospitals in Kogi State, North Central, and Nigeria. A total of 523 wound swabs were collected randomly from the three senatorial zones in the Kogi State. 7 bacterial isolates were examined. Coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (31%), Escheriae coli (18.3%), Pseudomonas aerogina (15%), coagulase species (12.8%), Klebsiella pneumonia (12.3%), Streptococcus species (11.7%) and proteus species (8.2%) were identified to be commonly associated with wound infections in the area under study. The paper recommended that adequate awareness should be created among the populace so as to forestall or reduce the rates of microbial infections.