Majda Qureshi, Farooq Aziz.
Prevalence of microbial isolates in blood cultures and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles.
Biomedica Jan ;27(2):136-9.

The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological profile and the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria identified in blood culture to improve empirical antibiotherapy. The study was retrospective in nature and carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore; data generated from blood culture specimens over 2 year period (Aug 2009 – Aug 2011) was compiled, relevant information such as age, sex, organism recovered and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained from patients records. During the 2years period 450 blood cultures were received from pediatrics / neonatology wards / OPD and from adult patients. In a total of 450 blood cultures, 75 yielded monomicrobial growth. An incidence of positive blood culture was 16.6% (75/450) that includes Gram – negative bacilli 60% and Gram – positive cocci 40%. The most frequently identified species were Staphylococcus epidermidis (16%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (10.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.3%) and Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 60% included Escherichia coli 16%, Klebsiella pneumonae 13.3% and pseudomonas aeroginosa10. 10.7% the most common bacterial isolates, and the other bacteria isolated were Citrobacter / Enterobacter the least 5.4%, Proteus spp. and Salmonella typhi / paratyphi; were 8% acinotobacter and pasturella were 6.6%. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 16 antimicrobial agents were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using standard Kirby Bauer’s method. None of the antibiotics tested was 100% active against isolates. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci showed no resistance to glycopeptides. Most Gram positive isolates were (100%) sensitive to vancomycin, and 50 – 75% of the Gram – negative isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. It is concluded that E.coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus remain the principal organisms responsible for blood infection in a tertiary care setting.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com