Bacteriological profile of blood culture isolates from patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Dr. Borker Shubhangi S; Dr. Rodrigues Savio

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

Bacteriological profile of blood culture isolates from patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Dr. Borker Shubhangi S, Dr. Rodrigues Savio

Abstract :

Background: Blood stream infections are a medical emergency and need to be addressed promptly to reduce morbidity and mortality. Bacteriological analysis of the causative agents and their antibiogram pattern is imperative to obtain a favourable clinical outcome. Objectives: To isolate and identify blood bacterial pathogens, along with their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern. Methods: A total of 1945 blood samples received in Hartley�s Broth were subjected to bacterial culture analysis and antibiogram pattern of the isolates, according to standard laboratory procedures. Results: Bacterial isolation rate from blood cultures was 11.1%. All positive cultures were monomicrobial. Gram Negative Bacilli were isolated in 74.2% cases. The predominant bacterial types were Acinetobacter baumannii (28.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.1%). Staphylococcus aureus was encountered in 10.2% cases, amongst which, MRSA was 63.6%. Antibiogram pattern showed 69.6% and 69.4% sensitivity to Piperacillin – Tazobactam and Colistin, respectively, among Gram Negative Bacteria and 100% sensitivity to Vancomycin among Gram Positive bacteria. Blood culture positive cases were in the older age group of above 61 years (23.6%) and the male : female ratio was 1.3 : 1. A large number of culture positive patients were admitted in Medicine wards (31.9%). Clinical analysis of culture positive subjects revealed a respiratory focus in 20.8% of the total. Conclusion: Bacteremia and subsequent septicemia is a medical emergency and warrants timely detection, isolation and identification of pathogens and their antibiogram pattern. Knowledge of the bacteriological profile of blood pathogens in a locality is essential. This serves as a guide in emperical choice of antibiotics, before culture result is obtained, so that clinical outcome is favourable.