Bacteriological Profile of Endotracheal Aspirates and their Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern

Abstract

Early onset Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is usually less severe, associated with a better prognosis, and is more likely caused by antibiotic-sensitive bacteria. Late-onset VAP, is usually caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the local microbial flora causing VAP needs to be studied and appropriate therapy based on the early endotracheal (ET) aspirate culture report can help managing this group of patients. The present study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, JSS Hospital, Mysore from January 2017 to December 2017. Bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates from ET aspirates of patients on mechanical ventilation in Intensive care units were source of data. A total number of 1432 samples were received in the lab for ET aspirate culture. Among these 1432 samples, 1055 showed growth ranging from 10 2 to 10 6 colony forming units/ml (CFU/ml), 124 had no growth at all and 253 had no significant growth (<10 2 CFU/ml) Out of 1055 isolates,1023 were Gram negative bacteria and 32 were Gram positive cocci . Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella were the major pathogens in our study. Majority of them being MDR, maximum sensitivity was observed for Tigecycline and colistin in these isolates. Knowledge of causative microbial flora of VAP along with information on the susceptibility patterns will help in selection of the appropriate antibiotic for therapeutic use for better outcome.