Bacterial Profile and their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern in Pediatric Septicemia patients from Tertiary Care Hospital.

Abstract

Background:
 Blood stream infection is a life-threatening infection, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in pediatric population. Antimicrobial drug resistance is a major therapeutic challenge and may result in treatment failure. Thus, this study aimed to assess the bacterial profile causing septicemia and their antimicrobial resistance pattern among pediatric population.
 Methods: 
 This reterospective study was conducted in pathology department of Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore, over a period of two years, from 1st January 2021 to 31 December 2022. Blood samples were aseptically collected and were transferred into Bact/Alert blood culture bottle. After the detection of microbial growth by Bact/Alert 3D system, bacterial isolates were identified by standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern was determined by Modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. Data was entered and analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2010.
 Results:
 In our study, out of 1306 blood culture samples, 217(16.6%) were positive for bacterial growth. Among positive cases, Gram negative organisms were predominant isolates 181(83.4%), while Gram positive organisms were isolated in 36(16.6%) samples. Most common bacterial isolates were S. typhi (24%), A.baumanii (19%), P.aeruginosa (9%), while S.aureus and MRSA were 8% each. Highly resistant class of drugs for Gram-positive bacteria were found to be Aminopenicillin (69.1%) and Macrolides (68.6%), while Gram-negative organisms showed maximum resistance against Tetracycline (72.9%), Fluoroquinolones (62.1%) and Cephalosporins (61%).
 Conclusion:
 Bacterial isolates clinically suspected cases of septicemia were high. Majority of bacterial isolates showed maximum drug resistance against different classes of antibiotics. To prevent antibiotic resistance, strict regulation of antibiotic utilization and infection control programs should be implemented.