LOODSTREAM BACTERIAL ISOLATES AND THEIR ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

AbstractBackground- Blood stream infections range from self-limiting infections to life-threatening sepsis causing significant mortality and morbidity worldwide and require rapid and aggressive anti-microbial treatment. Rational and correct use of antibiotics requires understanding of common pathogens and drug resistance patterns in a community. The current study reports the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of blood culture isolates in a tertiary care teaching Hospital.Materials and Methods-This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Microbiology Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital, using blood culture data from October 2012 to March 2013.Results- Of the 1880 blood samples collected over a period from October 2012 to March 2013, 254 (13.5) samples yielded growth, 131 (51.8) were gram-negative, 123 (48.2) were gram positive organisms. The common organisms isolated were Klebsiella pneumoniae 64 (48.8) and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci 105 (85.3)CONS. All gram negative isolates including non fermenters were sensitive to Amikacin, piperacillin tazobactum and imipenem.High resistance was noted against Cephalosporins. Among gram positive organisms Coagulase Negative Stapphylococci (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) were highly sensitive to Amikacin, Linezolid, Vancomycin. Streptococci were highly sensitive to Penicillin, Ampicillin, Amoxyclavulanic acid, VancomycinConclusion- Our study suggests use of wide spectrum antibiotics effective against both gram positive and gram negative organisms in the initial treatment of Bloodstream infections. Combination of Amikacin and pipercillin tazobactum or Amikacin and Linezolid are found to be effective against all isolates of blood culture.