Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, cilt.8, sa.1, ss.45-53, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
Objectives: Wound infections represent a major concern among earthquake survivors, particularly in patients requiring emergency surgical interventions. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have increasingly been reported as dominant pathogens in post-earthquake infections. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of trauma-related wound infections following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and to assess empirical antimicrobial treatment strategies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult patients with post-earthquake wound infections who were admitted to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Hospitals. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were analyzed, and factors associated with MDR infections were statistically evaluated. Results: The study included 47 patients. The median duration of entrapment under debris was 18 hours (range, 0.5–120 hours), and 74.5% of patients had crush syndrome. Among the 41 patients (87.2%) referred from external centers, 51.2% had received prior antibiotic therapy. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms were detected in 57.4% of cases. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequently isolated pathogen, accounting for 53.6% of all isolates. The presence of MDR infection was significantly associated with referral from an external center (p=0.002), a history of fasciotomy and/or amputation (p=0.001), and longer duration of entrapment under debris (p=0.019). Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was required for 63.8% of patients. The mean ICU length of stay was 8.16 (±9.23) days, and ICU hospitalization was significantly longer among patients with MDR infections (p=0.036). Empirical antimicrobial therapy was modified in 72.3% of cases based on culture results. The 28-day and 90-day survival rates were 100% and 95.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly A. baumannii, predominate in post-earthquake wound infections. Empirical antimicrobial strategies should account for healthcare-associated pathogens, and early infection control interventions are essential to optimize patient outcomes.