War-inflicted nations are grappling with significant public health challenges, including infections resistant to antimicrobials. It’s critically important to comprehend the impact of war on the wound microbiome and the distribution of antimicrobial resistance among patients treated in hospitals. The study under discussion aimed to ascertain this impact and shed light on war’s contribution to the worldwide public health crisis stuck with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Dearth of medical care, large numbers of wounded and displaced persons and severe injuries wallowing in war-torn regions result in alarming rates of morbidity and mortality, exacerbating infections. Moreover, combatants usually receive wounds contaminated with soil and are treated in unprepared facilities with inadequate infection control further surging these rates. Studies indicate that war-related wounds can accelerate the formation of multidrug-resistant organisms suggesting the growth of AMR is driven by human conflicts.
The present study examines wound pathogens’ profiles, their antibiotic resistance, and subsequent implications for patient care. Conducted between January to April 2024, it retrospectively tracks data from the Sumy Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. It includes military patients treated in civilian hospitals with purulent wounds. Generation of wound swab cultures and testing of the isolated strains were performed to determine the morphological, staining, biochemical features of the isolated strains as well as the antibiotic susceptibility.
Out of seventy-three enrolled military patients, 56.16% exhibited wound infections associated with A. baumannii, E. faecalis, and B. cereus being the most common isolates. The prevalence of multidrug resistance was strikingly high at 84.6%. Gram-negative bacteria isolated showed a higher rate of resistant strains compared to gram-positive ones, depicting a worrying trend and highlighting the necessity for revising empirical antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment protocols.
Combatant wound healing is intricately linked to the microbial composition of the wound, complicating recovery for many. Moreover, the globally concerning trend of AMR is significantly exacerbated by the war conditions experienced in regions like Ukraine, worrying for both civilian and military populations. Therefore, continuous evaluation of wound microbiota is indispensable to improve patient care and mitigate the risk of global AMR spread.