Delayed Post-Operative Surgical Site Infection: Source And Investigation Of Causative Agent

About 70 middle aged (20 - 45 years) patients, including 40 males and 30 females, operated at Base Military Hospital, Meerut Cantonment Board, Meerut (India) developed typical symptoms of pus formation at surgical sites and opening of sutures after 30 - 45 days. To investigate the causative pathogen and source of infection, various samples were collected from wounds and various sites of Operation Theatre. The samples were processed on culture media including nutrient agar, McConkey agar and Lowenstein-Jensen's medium (LJ medium). To identify the pathogens, Gram's and acid fast staining of the smears of samples and cultures obtained on different media, were carried out. Acid fast bacilli were observed after 3 - 5 days of incubation on LJ medium. The wound samples showed the prevalence of Mycobacterium chelonae and acid fast rods.