Profile of Multidrug Resistant Isolates from Paediatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Puducherry

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, antimicrobial resistance is a challenge faced by physicians globally. Infections due to Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) is a significant problem in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Aim: To identify the burden of antimicrobial resistance in hospital isolates from paediatric patients and elucidate the resistance pattern of MDROs. Materials and Methods: A hospital based, prospective study was conducted for a period of two years. Samples from paediatric outpatients and inpatients were included and data were collected from those yielding growth on culture. Standard methods were followed for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: A total of 5443 samples were received, from 3881 patients, including urine, blood, exudate, respiratory specimens, stool and body fluids. Total 561 bacteria were isolated from these samples with the majority being from urine 419 (74.7%) and blood 86 (15.3%). Of the 419 bacteria from urine, 238 (56.8%) and of the 86 isolates from blood, 24 (27.9%) were multidrug resistant, respectively. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most common pathogen as well as the most common MDRO followed by Klebsiella species. Multidrug resistant Gram negative bacteria were sensitive to amikacin (73-88%), piperacillin-tazobactam (82-100%) and imipenem (82-100%). Enterococcus spp. was the most resistant organism among Gram positive bacteria. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of multidrug resistant pathogens among paediatric population. E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Enterococcus spp. were the most common multidrug resistant pathogens, majority of them isolated from urine culture.

Keywords

• bacterial
• drug resistance
• escherichia coli
• urinary tract infections