Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Acinetobacter Spp in Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal, Nepal

Abstract

Acinetobacter spp. is emerging as a greater threat and challenge worldwide due to its high prevalence and ability to acquire antimicrobial drug resistance by all known modes of mechanisms that is variable in different countries, regions, hospitals and even different wards. Hence, local surveillance based on local scenario of Acinetobacter is mandatory for the selection of proper therapeutic options by the clinicians. This study has the objective to determine the overall prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Acinetobacter spp. and was out carried at Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal, Nepal from October 2009 to March 2010. In this study, Conventional bacteriological methods were used for the identification of Acinetobacter spp. and susceptibility testing was performed by disk-diffusion method recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI).

The overall prevalence of Acinetobacter spp. was 9.1% out of 810 total bacterial isolates and 10.4% out of total 713 gram-negative isolates that was higher in males (52.7%) than in females (47.3%) of age-group 20-40 years and highest in intensive care units (72.2%) among different wards. Among isolates from different types of specimens, the prevalence of Acinetobacter spp. was found to highest in miscellaneous specimens followed by catheter tips and respiratory tract specimens. Out of 24 antimicrobial drugs used against all Acinetobacter spp., Carbapenems, Ceftriaxone, Co-trimoxazole, Cefoperazone/sulbactam and Chloramphenicol were the most effective antimicrobials in this hospital.

In conclusion, the prevalence of Acinetobacter spp in Kathmandu Medical College was higher in male patients of age groups (20-40) year and in intensive care units (ICUs) in miscellaneous specimens followed by catheter tips and respiratory tract specimens. Carbapenems, Ceftriaxone, and Co-trimazole were the most effective antimicrobials against Acinetobacter spp. in this hospital.

Key words: Acinetobacter, prevalence, susceptibility profile, Carbapenems, Ceftriaxone, Co-trimoxaxole