ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY PATTERN OF ACINETOBACTER SPECIES ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Acinetobacter , once considered as opportunistic pathogen has recently been emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen world over, mostly involving patients with impaired host defense. 1 It is rapidly evolving toward multi drug resistance against commonly prescribed antimicrobials and is becoming major challenges for physicians. 2 The aim of present study was to find sensitivity and resistance pattern of Acinetobacter species in our set up. It is a descriptive study, that was carried out in the Pathology Department, Post Graduate Medical Institute Lahore from June 2011 to May 2012. Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the department of Pathology, Post Graduate Medical Institute Lahore from June 2011 to May 2012. Total 6185 clinical specimens were inoculated. All isolations obtained were further processed and Acinetobacter species was isolated by the routine microbiological and biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity test was done by modified Kirby – Bauer disc diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institutes guidelines 2011. Results and Discussion: During the study period from June 2011 to May 2012 a total of 6185 specimen were received from Lahore General Hospital. Out of 6185 clinical samples processed 2180 (35%) were culture positive and 4005 (65%) showed no growth. Acinetobacter species isolated was 90 (4.2%) in 12 months from 2180 positive cultures. In the present study the susceptibility pattern of Acinetobacter species recovered from different clinical specimens against various types of antibiotics was maximum with Cefepime 70%, Meropenem 66%, Pipercillin / Tazobactam 66%, Amikacin 66% followed by Ampicillin – Salbactum 59%, Gentamycin 50%, Ciprofloxacin 50%, Ceftriaxone 44%, Ceftazidime 40%, Tetracycline 31% and Trimethoprime – sulfamethoxazole 22%. Acinetobacter species isolated was 90 (4.2%) in 12 months from 2180 positive cultures. Conclusion: Acinetobacter species are becoming difficult to treat day by day due to increasing resistant isolates. These drug resistant infections can be minimise to some extend by judicial use of antibiotics and adopting strict infection control methods.