ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter species are typical nosocomial pathogens causing infections and high mortality, almost exclusively in compromised hospitalized patients. Acinetobacter sp. are intrinsically less susceptible to antibiotics and have propensity to acquire resistance. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter sp. blood infection in the neonatal intensive care unit patients create a great problem in hospital settings. AIMS: A prospective data analysis was performed over a one year period of all neonates admitted with sepsis who developed Acinetobacter infection and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples of infected neonates were collected aseptically and cases of Acinetobacter septicemia were identified. Speciation of Acinetobacter species was done. Various risk factors were identified and their drug-sensitivity test was performed. RESULTS: The incidence of neonatal septicemia due to Acinetobacter species was 13.7% (49/357). Predominant species isolated was Acinetobacter baumannii (98%). The major symptoms were lethargy and poor feeding. The major signs were tachypnea, intercostal retraction, and respiratory distress. The major fetal risk factors were low birth weight and prematurity. High degree of resistance was observed to the various antibiotics used. Majority of the isolates (95.9%) were MDR while 93.68% were resistant to carbapenems as well as extensively drug resistant. However, all the strains were sensitive to colistin. CONCLUSION: MDR Acinetobacter septicemia in neonatal patients is becoming alarmingly frequent and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Therefore, rational antibiotic use is mandatory along with an effective infection control policy in neonatal intensive care areas of each hospital to control Acinetobacter infection and improve outcome.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Candidal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Neonatal candidiasis is increasing in frequency, mainly because of increase in the survival of babies with low-birth weight, preterm births, advancement in medical field, life support systems, relative immunodeficiency, and extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Over the past few decades, there has been a progressive shift from the predominance of Candida albicans to nonalbicans Candida species. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of the current study was to know the prevalence of non albicans candidemia in neonates and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 424 samples from clinically diagnosed septicemic neonates were included. Identification of Candida isolates from these samples as well as their antifungal sensitivity testing was performed with Vitek 2 Compact (Biomerieux France) using Vitek 2 cards for identification of yeast and yeast-like organisms (ID-YST cards). RESULTS: A total of 246/424 (58.01%) cases were blood culture positive. Out of these, 80/246 samples tested positive for candidemia (32.5%). Candida tropicalis (13.8%) was the predominant species isolated among the non-albicans Candida followed by Candida krusei (4.8%), Candida parapsilosis (3.2%), Candida guilliermondii (2.8%), and Candida dubliniensis (2.0%). We found an increase in the antifungal drug resistance, especially for the azole group of drugs, both in C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species. All the isolates were uniformly sensitive to micafungin, voriconazole, and caspofungin. CONCLUSION: Candidemia in neonates is an ominous prognostic sign and is an important entity in our region. The present study highlights the mycological shift of Candida species in neonatal candidemia with a preponderance of nonalbicans Candida species.
ABSTRACT
Endocarditis is a rare complication of typhoid fever. We report a case in which Salmonella enterica serotype typhi was isolated from a case of endocarditis. The isolate was resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin but sensitive to ceftriaxone, amikacin and gentamicin.
