Background: Burn injuries disrupt skin barriers and weaken immune defenses, predisposing patients to opportunistic, drug-resistant Gram-negative infections. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention and treatment strategies in burn care settings.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, pattern as well as clinical significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in patients with burns.
Method: A prospective observational study was conducted from April 2024 to April 2025. One hundred and fifty clinical samples from burn patients were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Identification of isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility testing followed Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics and isolate distribution (frequencies, percentages). Inferential analysis was performed using Fisher’s Exact Test to examine associations between infection timing (early vs late) and key clinical variables (e.g., pathogen type and resistance profiles); a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data on infection timing, patient demographics, and clinical presentation were analyzed to determine high-risk periods and patterns.
Results: Eighty isolates were recovered: P. aeruginosa (n=48), A. baumannii (n=19), and 13 cases of co-infection. A distinct peak in P. aeruginosa infections occurred between days 21–30 of hospitalization, marking a critical nosocomial transmission phase. Gender variation in A. baumannii was noted, with females infected earlier and males later in the hospital stay. Bloodstream infections represented 40% of cases, with P. aeruginosa significantly more prevalent than A. baumannii (P<0.05). A baumannii showed complete resistance to imipenem, tobramycin, and netilmicin. P. aeruginosa demonstrated 100% resistance to tobramycin and netilmicin, and over 97% resistance to ofloxacin and aztreonam. Both pathogens retained full sensitivity to colistin and polymyxin B.
Conclusion: Burn patients face a high risk of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii infections, especially in the third and fourth weeks of hospitalization. Early detection, strict infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship are essential to improve outcomes and reduce mortality in burn units.