Bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among critically 111 patients; A cross sectional study

Introduction: Emergence of new organisms and changing antibiotic susceptibility pattern are challenges faced by all Intensive Care Units (ICUs). We have designed a study to identify the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of infections among the patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and method: This study was a cross sectional study where all patients admitted to the Intensive Care unit of a tertiary care hospital during a one year period were evaluated and clinical specimens collected from cases with suspected infections were processed as per standard microbiological tests as approved by CLSL Cases were subsequently classified based on the CDC case definitions. Results: A total of 107 samples were analysed in this study. Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant organisms identified, accounting for 73 % of the isolates. There was high incidence of MDR organisms in our study ranging from 17% in Pseudomonas to 57% among Acinetobacter isolates. The net rate of ESBL producers in the study was 83%.Meropenem resistance (41%-44%) was seen among isolates of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. 71 % of the staphylococcus isolates were methicillin resistant. Conclusion: The important resistant patterns identified in our study were ESBL producing Gram negative bacilli(GNB) and MRSA. Most of the GNB were multi drug resistant(MDR) with maximum MDRseen with Acinetobacter. Emerging meropenem resistance and high sensitivity only to beta lactuml betalactamase inhibitors and imipenem indicates urgent need for antibiotic stewardship in this ICU.