Abstract

Farida Anjum and Asif Mir*

To determine current trends of antibiotic resistance among clinically significant pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing various nosocomial and community acquired infections. A total of 100 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from inpatient and outpatient were studied from June 2008 to May 2009 for its prevalence and susceptibility profiles. Most of the isolates were from pus followed by urine, sputum, blood, ear swab and catheter tip. Uropathogenic P. aeruginosa infections were higher in females than males, ratio was found more among young and elderly debilitated patients. Ciprofloxacin, Piperacillin, Imipenem were found more effective for treatment of infections in outpatients but for inpatients, parental therapy with newer aminoglycosides and third and forth generation cephalosporins need to be advocated as the P. aeruginosa causing nosocomial infections exhibits a high degree of drug resistance. Ninety nine percent of the clinical isolates were resistant to six commonly used antibiotics with highest resistance to ampicillin (100%) and cefuroxime (100%) followed by amoxycillin (99%), co-trimoxazole (99%), Tetracycline (99%), Cefazoline (99%). The in vitro sensitivity pattern of 100 isolates of P. aeruginosa showed highest sensitivity to imipenem (97%) followed by amikacin (79%), tobramycin (70%), ceftazidime (62%), ciprofloxacin (73%), cefoperazone (60%), piperacillin (65%), Gentamycin (34%) and Cefotaxime (14%). ESBLs producing strains (33%) were also less in number but were much more resistant to -lactam and other antibiotics. The results indicate that P. aeruginosa is the most common gram -negative bacterium responsible for the nosocomial as well as community acquired infections. The excessive use of antibiotics has not only led to treat the P. aeruginosa infections but also the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The development of multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa is currently one of the greatest challenges to the effective management of infections. This suggests that in addition to curative measures promptly preventive measures such as hygienic as well as better hospital and postoperative care in administration should be adopted.