Isolation and Identification of Aerobic Bacterial Pathogens from Blood Culture of Cancer Patients in Al-Zara Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Patients with cancer are particularly under risk of many microbial infections and even septicaemia due to the weakened immune system induced by Chemotherapy. This study was done to identify and isolate aerobic bacterial septicaemic pathogens among cancer patients. This study was performed in Radiation and Isotopes national Centre of Khartoum Hospital (previously Alzarra) during the period from September to November 2019. One Hundred Fifty blood samples were collected from cancer patients suspected to have septicemia. All samples where inculated in blood culture media and incubated aerobically. Upon detection of growth signs the bacterial isolates were subcultured and identified according to the Standard known procedure. Antimicrobial sensitivity test was done following CLSI guidelines, The study showed that Twenty two (14%) of the investigated samples were showed growth signs, while One hundred Twenty eight (86%) were showed no growth. After subculture on Blood agar, MacConky agar and Chocolate agar, all isolated pathogens were subjected to essential bacteriological biochemical tests and identified as E.coli (57.1%) , Klebsiella pneumonia (19%) ,Staphylococcus aureus( 9.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.8%) . Citrobacter Spp (4.8%) and Streptococcus pyogens (4.8%). Septicaemia in patients with cancer was mainly caused by E.coli in patients using chemotherapy. Further study with inclusion of more sample size and focusing on multidrug resistant isolates is essential to verify the current study results.