Frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter species isolated from blood samples of paediatric patients

Abstract

Objective: Acinetobacter species is a major nosocomial pathogen causing serious infections in immuno-compromised and hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Acinetobacter species in blood samples of paediatric patients.

Methodology: This cross sectional observational study was conducted during January to October, 2011 at The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. A total number of 12,032 blood samples were analysed during the study period. Acinetobacter species were identified using API 20E and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was studied using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Results: The blood cultures showed growth in 1,141 cultures out of which 46 (4.0%) were Acinetobacter species. The gender distribution of Acinetobacter species was 29 (63.0%) in males and 17 (37.0%) in females. A good antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Acinetobacter species was seen with sulbactam-cefoparazone (93.0%), imepenem and meropenem (82.6% each) and piperacillin-tazobactam (78.0%). The antimicrobial susceptibility of cefixime (19.5%), co-amoxiclav and cefotaxime (23.9% each), cefuroxime (26.0%), ceftazidime and ceftriaxone (30.4%) was poor.

Conclusion: The results of the present study shows high rate of resistance of Acinetobacter species with cephalosporins in nosocomial infections. The sulbactam-cefoperazone, carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam showed effective antimicrobial susceptibility against Acinetobacter species.