Bacterial Profile and Biofilm Detection in Burn Wound Isolates Comparing Three Phenotypic Methods: A Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India

Introduction: Burn wounds are highly susceptible to bacterial infections, particularly from organisms that produce biofilms and exhibit multidrug resistance. These biofilms make infections more difficult to treat by protecting bacteria from antibiotics and slowing the healing process. Identifying the microorganisms involved and understanding their resistance patterns are essential for guiding treatment and improving outcomes in burn patients. Aim: To investigate the microbial profile, antibiotic susceptibility, and biofilm production in bacterial isolates from burn wound infections in patients at a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Shri M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, over a one-year period (October 2018-September 2019). A total of 100 samples were collected from patients with burn wounds, yielding 48 bacterial isolates. Swab samples were cultured for bacterial growth, identified using standard biochemical methods, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Biofilm production was assessed using the Tissue Culture Plate (TCP), tube adherence, and Congo Red Agar (CRA) methods. Demographic details including age, sex, type, and extent of burns were recorded. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0, applying the Chi-square test, with p-values