Keywords
Bloodstream infections
ESKAPEE
Multidrug resistance
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Some of the most threatening drug-resistant microbes are the members of ESKAPEE group, an acronym for Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., and Escherichia coli which are posing a constant risk with increasing treatment challenges worldwide.
Objectives: To determine the occurrence of ESKAPEE pathogens in blood samples of patients attending and determine their antimicrobial resistance pattern.
Methodology: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital retrospectively. The records were obtained from culture and sensitivity test performed on all the blood samples received in the Microbiology Laboratory from July 2023- June 2024. The data was entered and analyzed in WHONET 2024 program.
Results: Out of 4180 blood samples received, pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 108 samples. ESKAPEE pathogens constituted 68.5% of total bacterial isolates. Five (6.75%) Enterococcus spp, 33 (44.59%) Staphylococcus aureus, 10 (13.5%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9 (12.16%) Acinetobacter spp., 3 (4.05%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 (1.35%) Enterobacter spp and 13 (17.56%) Escherichia coli were isolated. Sixty three percent Staphylococcus aureus were Methicillin resistant. Twenty percent Klebsiella pneumonaie and 23% Escherichia coli were Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases producers. Sixty percent of Klebsiella pneumonaie and 22.22% Acinetobacter spp. showed carbapenem resistance.
Conclusion: Our study shows increased prevalence of ESKAPEE pathogens resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Judicious use of antimicrobials, active infection control practices, stringent antibiotic policy and regular surveillance is the need of the hour for preventing antimicrobial resistance.
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