Bacteriological Spectrum and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli in Bloodstream Infections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/0fqhdy82Keywords:
Non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB), bloodstream infection (BSI), antibiotic susceptibility.Abstract
Introduction: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is one of the major challenges faced in hospitals as it increases patient
stay, healthcare cost, and mortality rate. Non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli NFGNB have emerged as
a significant pathogen in hospital settings and BSI due to these NFGNB are on the rise. Due to the extensive
resistance of NFGNB to antimicrobials, it becomes crucial to understand the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of
these organisms in different clinical settings.
Aim and objective: To determine the prevalence of non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) and their
antibiotic susceptibility pattern in admitted patients with bloodstream infections(BSI)at a tertiary care hospital.
Material & Methods: A retrospective analysis of blood culture samples was done over a period of 1 year (1stApril
2022 to 31st March 2023) in the Department of Microbiology at a tertiary care hospital. All samples were processed
as per standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility was interpreted according to CLSI 2022
guidelines.
Results: In this study, the prevalence of NFGNB was 3.42%. The most common NFGNB isolated were
Acinetobacter species and Pseudomonas species. The other NFGNB isolated were Stenotrophomonas
maltophilia,
Sphingomonaspaucimobilis, Burkholderiacepacia complex, Elizabethkingiameningoseptica and
Achromobacterdenitrificans. Acinetobacter species showed multidrug resistance while other NFGNB were
susceptible to commonly tested antibiotics.
Conclusion: The NFGNB which were previously considered as contaminants or commensals have emerged as
important pathogens causing serious infections. This study depicts the increasing number of non-fermenters in
bloodstream infections among patients admitted in tertiary care hospital. Hence identification of NFGNB and their
appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility testing can help clinicians to initiate the empirical treatment.
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