ASSESSMENT OF SHIFT IN THE ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF AEROBIC BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM MICROBIAL BIOFILMS IN PATIENTS WITH ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AND PRECANCEROUS CONDITIONS

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a concerning global health problem in reference to cancer patients as they are more susceptible to drug-resistant microorganisms because of their immunocompromised states. Aim: The aim of this study was to study the changes in the pattern of aerobic bacterial flora in the patients of oral cancer and precancerous lesions and to identify the susceptibility to commonly used Antibiotics in clinical practice. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in a randomly selected cohort of oral cancer and precancerous patients being treated at tertiary care centre in Rajasthan, for a period of 1 year. Oral swabs were collected from patients presenting with oral cancer and precancerous lesions and subjected to microbiological examination for their colony characters, morphology on Gram stain as well for Antibiotic sensitivity patterns for commonly used drugs. Results: Of the 100 oral cancer patients, isolated bacterial colonies showed a mixture of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative organisms. Staphylococcus species (n = 15) were seen in high numbers in the case of Gram-positive organisms, while in Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas species (n = 45) increased in number. Among the precancerous patient group normal commensal (Micrococci, n= 24) was the predominant species. In Gram-negative bacteria, all were susceptible to Piperacillin Tazobactam and Imipenem while in Gram-positive bacteria all were susceptible to Linezolid, Gentamicin, and Vancomycin. Conclusion: This study showed 90% susceptibility to every class of commonly used antibiotics. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 9.52% of the bacterial isolates. Antimicrobial resistance is emerging among cancer patients. Studies on cultural sensitivity patterns will help clinicians to prescribe antibiotics judiciously and will further decrease the chances of antimicrobial resistance in these patients.