Microbial Spectrum and Antimicrobial Resistance in Burn Wound Infections after an Aviation Disaster in Bangladesh
Sr No:
Page No:
1-6
Language:
English
Authors:
Hoque MM*, Uddin MN & Kausar SMH
Received:
2026-03-24
Accepted:
2026-04-27
Published Date:
2026-05-07
Abstract:
Background: Burn wound infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly
following mass casualty events where healthcare systems are rapidly overwhelmed. On 21 July
2025, an aviation disaster in Dhaka, Bangladesh resulted in a sudden influx of patients with
severe burn injuries, creating significant challenges for infection control and antimicrobial
management.
Objective: This study aimed to characterize the microbiological profile and antimicrobial
resistance patterns of burn wound infections among victims of a mass casualty aviation disaster
in Bangladesh.
Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of
Burn and Plastic Surgery and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, from 22 July to
22 August 2025. A total of 40 burn wound samples from hospitalized patients with clinically
suspected infections were analyzed. Microbial isolation and identification were performed using
standard culture techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the
Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and the VITEK® 2 automated system, with interpretation
according to CLSI M100 guidelines (2024).
Results: A total of 46 microbial isolates were recovered. Gram-negative bacteria predominated
(78.3%), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (17.4%) and fungi (4.3%). Pseudomonas spp.
were the most common pathogens (47.8%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17.4%),
Klebsiella spp. (13.0%), and Acinetobacter spp. (8.7%). High resistance to fluoroquinolones
and carbapenems was observed among Gram-negative isolates. Pseudomonas spp. showed
preserved susceptibility to piperacillin–tazobactam (81.8%) and colistin (100%). Fifty percent
of S. aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant, while all remained susceptible to vancomycin
and linezolid.
Conclusion: Burn wound infections following this mass casualty aviation disaster were
predominantly caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas
spp. The findings underscore the need for early microbiological surveillance, rational
antimicrobial use, and strengthened infection prevention strategies to improve outcomes in
disaster-related burn care.
Keywords:
Burn wound infection; Mass casualty incident; Antimicrobial resistance; Multidrug-resistant organisms; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.