Antimicrobial Efficacy of Piperacillin- Tazobactam Loaded Alginate Scaffold in an Incisional Wound Model in Wistar Rats for Management of Surgical Site Infection: An in Vivo Study

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical site infections remain a significant postoperative complication, particularly in oral and maxillofacial procedures due to the inherent exposure of surgical wounds to the microbial flora of the oral cavity. Localised drug delivery systems using biocompatible scaffolds offer a promising approach for targeted antimicrobial therapy and improved wound healing. Sodium alginate, a widely used biopolymer, provides an effective platform for controlled drug delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a piperacillin-tazobactam loaded sodium alginate scaffold in an incisional wound model in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled in vivo study was conducted on healthy adult Wistar rats divided into three groups: Group A (control), Group B (sodium alginate scaffold), and Group C (piperacillin- tazobactam loaded alginate scaffold). Standardised incisional wounds were created, and respective dressings were applied. Wound swab samples were collected on Days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 for microbiological analysis, including isolation and identification of organisms and quantitative colony-forming unit (CFU) estimation. Clinical wound healing was assessed using the REEDA scoring system at corresponding time intervals.

Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were identified as the predominant organisms. No significant difference in microbial growth was observed among groups at early time points; however, Group C demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in microbial load from Day 7 onwards. Quantitative CFU analysis validated these findings, showing progressive bacterial load reduction in the treated group. Clinically, Group C exhibited improved wound healing compared to Groups A and B.

Conclusion: The piperacillin-loaded sodium alginate scaffold demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity and enhanced wound healing in the incisional wound model. The findings support its potential as a promising localised drug delivery system for the management of surgical site infections.