Antibiogram Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients' Lesions

Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that arises from the presence of an intracellular protozoan parasite. The occurrence of secondary bacterial infections in wounds caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis not only worsens the development of lesions but also hinders the healing process. Additionally, there is limited knowledge regarding the various bacterial species that co-infect leishmaniasis wounds and their susceptibility patterns in Tripoli. This study aimed to ascertain the resistance patterns of bacteria co-infecting cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds in patients seeking treatment at the NCDC Dermatology clinic.

Methods: A study at the NCDC Dermatology Clinic involved 81 patients with confirmed CL. Bacteria were isolated and characterized from wound swabs collected using sterile cotton-tipped applicators. The isolates were cultivated on various agar plates and tested for bacterial identification using tests like oxidase, catalase, and coagulase slide tests and also biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using the agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoint values.

Results: The study identified 93 secondary bacteria in Cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions, with Staphylococcus aureus (39.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.6%) being the most prevalent. Other pathogenic bacteria included Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.6%), Streptococci pyogenes (1.1%), and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Other pathogenic bacteria included Escherichia coli (7.5%), Enterobacter cloacae (6.5%), Citrobacter braakii (2.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia (2.2%), Pantoa sp. (2.2%), Pasteurella multocida (2.2%), Proteus mirabilis (2.2%), Protus Vulgaris (1.1%), and Serratia plymutica (1.1%). The study found that Ciprofloxacin had the most effective impact on bacterial isolates, followed by Rifampicin and Bactrim.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds are colonized by a diverse range of bacterial species, which exhibit a high degree of resistance to Augmentin, Amoxicillin, and Fusidic acid antibiotics.