The bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern among patients with suspected bloodstream infections, Gondar, north-west Ethiopia

Abtie Abebaw,1 Hiwot Tesera,2 Teshome Belachew,3 Gebreselassie Demeke Mihiretie1 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Science, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bahirdar University College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Background: The bacteria most likely to cause bacteremia include Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Haemophilus, and Neisseria genera. Bloodstream infections remain one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Drug-resistant pathogens are becoming the most challenging problem and they have different economic and social impacts around the world. Objective: To study the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility among bacteremia-suspected patients in the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital from September 2003 to February 2013. Materials and method: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2013 at the University of Gondar. Data were collected and extracted manually from the microbiology registration books of the hospital laboratory using checklists and were checked for its completeness and consistency. Result: Among a total of 856 blood samples analyzed, 169 (19.7%) cases were bacteremia confirmed. From the confirmed cases, 98 (58%) were male and 71 (42%) female. Culture positivity rate was highest (44%) in the age group of ≤28 days followed by the age group of 29 days–5 years. Conclusion: In our study, coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common causative agent for bacteremia among the Gram-positive isolates. The overall antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the Gram-positive isolates was an intermediate level of resistance (60%–80%), but Gram-negative bacteria showed a high level of resistance (>80%) against ampicillin and amoxicillin. Keywords: bacteremia, drug susceptibility, sepsis, resistan