The present study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Enterobacter species to guide the clinician in selecting the best antimicrobial agent for an individual patient. A total of 50 clinical isolates of Enterobacter species were collected from different clinical specimens at the microbiology laboratory of BSMMU between August, 2018 and September, 2019. The two main species of Enterobacter, E.cloacae and E.aerogenes were identified by biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and reported according to CLSI guidelines. Majority (56%) of the isolated Enterobacter were E.cloacae, 40% were E.aerogenes and 4% were other species. The Enterobacter isolates showed relatively high resistance rates to the cephalosporins including cefoxitin (82%), cefixime (62%), ceftazidime (46%) and ceftriaxone (46%). Resistance to the carbapenems and aminoglycosides was relatively low. The high resistance rates of Enterobacter species to multiple antibiotics makes it necessary for antimicrobial susceptibility testing to be conducted prior to antibiotic prescription. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2019; 13 (2): 3-6

Typhoid fever is a major public health problem in the developing world caused by Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A. Multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella has emerged as a cause of concern. This study was done to evaluate status in antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A from blood culture isolates in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University during the period of September 2018 to August 2019. Suspected Salmonella spp. was collected from blood culture samples and identification was done by conventional microbiological procedure. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin was determined by agar dilution method following 2018 guideline of CLSI. Of total 160 isolates studied, 98 (61.3%) were S. Typhi and 62 (38.7%) were S. Paratyphi A. Sensitivity to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole was 83.1%, 87.5% and 89.3% respectively. Majority of the Salmonella isolates were in ciprofloxacin intermediate susceptible category by MIC determination (83.8%). Most of all (95.6%) isolates were resistant by pefloxacin disc diffusion test. All the isolates were 100% sensitive to ceftriaxone, cefixime and cefepime; and sensitivity to azithromycin was 31.9%. Isolates showed a high degree of susceptibility to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. Thus, these antibiotics may once again be useful for the management of typhoid fever. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2021; 15 (2): 19-22

The emergence of carbapenemase producing Escherichia coli, the first hospital and community-acquired opportunistic pathogen now become a great public health concern. A total of 23 clinical isolates of carbapenemase producing E. coli from extraintestinal infections in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh were studied. Highest percentage of carbapenemase producing E. coli isolates were from urine samples (52.2%) followed by 21.7% from each of wound swab and pus and 4.1 % from blood samples. Among the E. coli isolates 69.6% were from indoor patients and 30.4% were from outdoor patients. All the isolates (100%) were positive for NDM of which 13% were NDM and OXA-48 co-producers by conventional PCR. Carbapenemase producing E. coli isolates were resistant to most of the antibiotic tested except for nitrofurantoin, colistin, polymyxin B and tigecycline with a sensitivity of 66.7%, 82.6%, 95.7% and 100% respectively. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2020; 14 (1): 3-6

Carbapenems, often agents of last resort for multidrug resistant bacterial infections are now threatened by widespread dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Production of carbapenemases remain the most clinically important mechanism of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiogram pattern of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae. A cross sectional study was conducted at department of Microbiology and Immunology, BSMMU from September 2018 to August 2019. A total of 145 CRE isolates from different clinical samples were studied.Antimicrobial susceptibility was examinedby disk diffusion method and MIC of colistin by broth microdilution method. Resistant carbapenemase genes NDM and OXA-48 were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Out of 145 CRE isolates, 104 were NDM, 73 were OXA-48and 34 isolates were both NDM and OXA-48 co-producers. All the NDM and OXA-48 carbapenemase producing isolates were 100% resistant to meropenem, imipenem, ertapenem, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and piperacillin + tazobactam. Resistance rates of reserved antimicrobials to treat CRE isolates were also alarming. Thirty seven percent, 9.6% and 5.5 % of OXA-48 carbapenemase producers and 26.0%, 10.6% and 2.9% of NDM carbapenemase producers were resistant to colistin, polymyxin B and tigecycline respectively.Among the carbapenemase producing isolates, 16.6% (24) were multidrug resistant (MDR), 82.1% (119) were extensively drug resistant (XDR) and 1.3% (2) isolates were pan drug resistantwhich highlights the emerging therapeutic challenge for these superbugs. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2019; 13 (2): 7-10

Dermatophytes are filamentous fungi that cause tiniasis with high prevalence in tropical hot, humid and overcrowded countries like Bangladesh. Antifungal drug resistance among dermatophyte isolates are very common due to irrational and overuse of them. In vitro antifungal susceptibility test may help to select appropriate drug, optimize the therapy and monitor the emergence of drug resistance. This study was undertaken to isolate and identify different dermatophyte species from skin, nail and hair samples and to see the susceptibility pattern of azoles (fluconazole, miconazole and itraconazole) among one of the most common dermatophyte isolates (Trichophyton rubrum) by disk diffusion method. A total of two hundred and forty six patients clinically suspected of dermatophytosis attending in the outpatient department (OPD) of Dermatology and Venereology of BSMMU, Dhaka, were studied from September 2018 to August 2019. All the samples of skin, nail and hair were processed for direct microscopic examination and culture. The species of dermatophytes were identified by gross colony morphology, microscopic features and biochemical tests. Antifungal susceptibility was performed by disk diffusion (Neo-Sensitabs susceptibility testing modified for Dermatophytes) method in Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) media. Out of 246 specimens 27.2% were positive by microscopy, 28.9% were positive by culture and 26.0% were positive by both microscopy and culture. Tinea cruris (32.4%) was the most prevalent clinical type among all dermatophyte isolates. Among 71 culture positive isolates, T. rubrum (71.8%) was most prevalent followed by T. mentagrophytes (24.0%) and E. floccosum (4.2%). By disk diffusion method fluconazole was found as the most resistant drug (90.2%) against T. rubrum isolates and Itraconazole was the most sensitive (80.4%). Miconazole was found as most intermediate sensitive. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2019; 13 (1): 20-23