Bloodstream infection and multidrug resistance in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective: To identify bacterial species and the antimicrobial resistance rate in blood culture samples from patients admitted to an adult ICU. Methods: This is an observational and retrospective study, carried out in a tertiary hospital in the Northwest of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between January 1, 2019 and October 31, 2022. Data were obtained from records in the database of blood cultures and electronic medical records of patients admitted to the hospital’s adult ICU. Results: From 2019 to 2022, Gram positive bacteria were the most isolated, however, a gradual reduction was observed over the years, in parallel with the growth in Gram negative etiology in this period. The frequently isolated microorganisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae. Staphylococcus aureus showed low resistance to methicillin, contrary to the results observed in coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains. Resistance rates ≥50% were identified to at least three classes of antimicrobials tested in Gram-negative bacteria, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella ozaenae and Serratia spp. Conclusion: The results indicated multidrug resistance at the study institution, especially concerning in Gram-negative strains.