Prevalent nosocomial gram negative aerobic bacilli and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in intensive care unit

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the type of prevalent aerobic gram-negative bacilli and their sensitivity pattern among nosocomial isolates. DESIGN: Prospective collection of clinically significant nosocomial gram negative bacilli. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital in Karachi. METHOD: One hundred isolates were identified by standard methods and minimum inhibitory concentration was checked by epsilometer test. The most frequent isolates were Eschericia coli [43%] followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae [18%] Acinetobacter spp. [7%] Enterobacter spp. [7%] and Klebsiella spp. other than pneumoniae [7%]. Most of the isolates of dominant species [E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae] were multiresistant including third generation cephalosporins. This study indicates that most effective antibiotics imipenem and amikacin inhibited most of the isolates. Imipenem alone or amikacin in combination with one broad spectrum beta-lactam drug should be used in initial empiric therapy in any life threatening nosocomial infection