Internal Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Antimicrobial Resistance among Commonly Encountered Bacteria Isolated in 2013 The ESKAPE Menace

Anuradha S De, Baveja S, D’Souza D and Patwegar S

Introduction: The most serious, life-threatening infections caused by a group of drug-resistant bacteria are named as "ESKAPE" pathogens by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), because they effectively escape the effects of antibacterial drugs.

Objectives: To find out the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from various specimens, with special reference to the ESKAPE bugs.

Methods: A retrospective study of one year was undertaken in this tertiary care hospital. Samples (pus/wound swabs, respiratory samples, blood cultures and urine samples were processed as per standard techniques and bacteria identified by standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility (ABS) was done by the Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion Method on Mueller Hinton Agar, according to CLSI guidelines.

Results: Maximum growth was seen from pus swabs (51.49%), followed by respiratory samples (35.66%). Overall Gram negative bacilli (GNB) isolated was 77% and GPC 23%. MDR was mainly seen with Proteus species (50%), followed by Acinetobacter species (48%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (46%). Staphylococcus aureus was the major Gram positive isolate in pus samples and enterococci in urine samples. Imipenem susceptibility for all bacteria was more than 80%, except in some respiratory samples. Both MDR and carbapenem resistant bacteria increased in 2013, as compared to 2012. S. aureus showed 100% susceptibility to linezolid and 33.86% of all MRSA showed ICR. One VISA and four VRE were isolated. HLAR was seen in 23.36% enterococci.

Conclusion: Judicious use of antibiotics is the need of the day to control the spread of MDR “ESKAPE” bugs. There is also an urgent need to develop Antimicrobial Stewardship.