English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Infections contribute to major morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. Antimicrobial resistance is another major problem with the increasing infections and non availability of ideal antimicrobial agent. Despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy, infections remain a serious burden. This study was designed t o assess the increasing infection rates and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in neurosurgical and neuropsychiatric patients. Over a period of three years and six months from January 2009 to June 2012, various samples were processed, isolated the infectious agent and identified. The different samples included samples like CSF, urine, pus, tracheal aspirates, shunt & catheter tips, tissue and blood. These were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility patterns by conventional and automated culture and sensitivity systems. The results were then statistically analyzed. This study found that in general, there is a trend towards increased rates of infections, the majority of which were caused by Multi Drug Resistant Gram Negative Bacilli (MDRGNB), followed by Candida species and Cryptococcus species, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection rates, from January 2009 to June 2012, were 3.7% to 5.1% for MDRGNB, 2.89% to 4.24% for Candida, 2.93% to 3.13% for Cryptococcus, 2.8% to 2.1%(till June 2012) for MRSA and 1.3% to 5.7% for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Also, a trend towards increasing resistance among the isolates to the carbapenem antibiotics was observed. The increasing trend of infections is a cause for concern throughout the country. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics, hospital personnel not adhering to safety precautions etc are the main reasons for the increased infection rates. Newer therapeutic agents and strict antibiotic policies are required to effectively control the issue of emerging infections.