Abstract

Shruti Pandey*, Dr. Avinash Kumar Bhatia2and Dr. Raj Kumar

ABSTRACT

Background: Wound infections remain a significant public health problem, contributing to delayed healing, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. The rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among wound pathogens has reduced the effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics, necessitating the exploration of alternative and adjunct antimicrobial agents. Medicinal plants and fruit-derived products have gained attention due to their bioactive compounds and potential antimicrobial properties. Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) is widely consumed and known to contain phytochemicals with antibacterial activity, making it a promising candidate for investigation against wound-infecting microorganisms. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the microbial profile of infected skin wounds and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Citrus sinensis peel and juice extracts against bacterial pathogens isolated from wound infections. Materials and Methods: An observational laboratory-based study was conducted on 200 patients with clinically infected wounds attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, India. Wound swabs were collected aseptically and processed for microbial culture and identification using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Antibacterial activity of freshly prepared C. sinensis peel and juice extracts was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, and zones of inhibition were measured. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by tube dilution for susceptible isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates was performed using standard disc diffusion techniques. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Out of 200 wound samples, 103 (51.5%) were culture-positive. Monomicrobial infections predominated (74.76%), and Gram-negative bacteria were more common (67.44%) than Gram-positive bacteria (32.56%). Staphylococcus aureus (23.26%) was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. C. sinensis juice extract exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than peel extract, with maximum inhibition observed against S. aureus (28.00 ± 2.10 mm) and E. coli (25.00 ± 4.20 mm). MIC results showed complete inhibition of S. aureus and E. coli at concentrations ≤10 mg/mL. Imipenem and amikacin were the most effective antibiotics, while high resistance was noted against ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The study highlights the predominance of Gram-negative bacteria and increasing antibiotic resistance among wound pathogens. Citrus sinensis extracts, particularly juice, demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, suggesting their potential as complementary antimicrobial agents in the management of wound infections.