Background: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the research priorities of health organizations due to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Outbreaks of nosocomial infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii (CRAB) strains are at rise worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance to carbapenems reduces clinical therapeutic choices and frequently led to treatment failure. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii isolated from patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, from December 2016 to November 2017. Total 63 non-repetitive A. baumannii were collected from the patients’ specimens, admitted to medical and surgical ICUs and wards of JPMC, Karachi. The bacterial isolates were processed according to standard microbiological procedures to observe for carbapenem resistance. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis.
Results: Out of the 63 patients, 40 (63.5%) were male. The age of the patient ranged from 15-85 year, with average of 43 year. 34.9% patients had been hospitalized for 3 days. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was present in highest number with average of 58.7% for morbidity. Number of patients on mechanical ventilation was highest (65.1%). All isolates were susceptible to colistin. The resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, piperacillin- tazobactam and meropenem was 82.5%, 81%, 100%, 87.3%, 82.5% and 82% respectively. Out of 82% CRAB, 77% were obtained from ICUs.
Conclusion: This study has revealed the high rate of carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii isolates in ICUs thus leaving behind limited therapeutic options.
