Determine the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Different Antimicrobials Used for Treating Infections in Cancer Patients: An Institutional Based Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Malignancy is a leading cause of deathworldwide, and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13%of all deaths) in 2008. Broad spectrum antibiotics arecommonly used as empirical therapy in febrile cancer patients.Hence; the present study was undertaken for determiningantimicrobial susceptibility pattern of different antimicrobialsused for treating infections in cancer patients.Materials & Methods: From the suspected cases of bloodstream infection from cancer patients, a total of 344 bloodsamples were collected for culture. Blood samples werecollected before starting the antimicrobial therapy. Theantibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates were done byKirby- Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar.Isolates were grown in peptone water by incubating at 37°Cand turbidity was matched with 0.5 MacFarland standards.Then lawn culture was done on Mueller Hinton agar plate andcommercial antibiotic disks were placed. The plates wereincubated at 37°C overnight and on the next day the zones ofinhibition were measured and susceptibility/ resistanceinterpreted.Results: Out of total 30 CONS cases, sensitivity was found inVancomycin (100%), Linezolid (93.3%), Amoxy-clav (80%),Cefoxitin (80%), Amikacin (73.3%), Ceftriaxone (73.3%),Ciprofloxacin (53.3%), Cotrimaxazole (33.3%), Erythromycin(26.7%), and Tetracycline (20%). Out of total 12 COPS cases,sensitivity was found in Vancomycin (100%), Linezolid (91.7%),Amoxy-clav (83.3%), Ceftriaxone (83.3%), Amikacin (66.7%)Ciprofloxacin (41.7%), Erythromycin (41.7%), Tetracycline(41.7%), Cotrimaxazole (25%) and Cefoxitin (25%). Out of total12 isolates of Staph aureus (COPS) 3(25%) cases were foundto be MRSA. Above table shows sensitivity pattern of gramnegative bacilli enterobactericae (E coli and klebsiella).Conclusion: The clinicians should have thorough knowledgefor appreciating empirical therapy as well switch over to thebest regime based on antibiotic susceptibility pattern toimprove the overall outcome of the patient’s health.