Microbiological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Microorganisms Isolated from Endotracheal Tube Tips and Tracheal Aspirates Specimens: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the microbiological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of microorganisms isolated from specimens of tracheal aspirate and endotracheal tube (ETT) tip.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore, Pakistan during July 2016 to July 2017. The laboratory records of ETT tips and tracheal aspirate specimens was retrospectively reviewed. Standard microbiological procedures were followed for the isolation and the identification of microorganisms. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2016, guidelines were used

Results: A total of 126 organisms were isolated from 121 specimens [Tracheal Aspirate 103 (85.1%) and ETT Tip 18 (14.9%)]. Most of the organisms were gram-negative 98 (77.78%), 17 (13.49%) were gram-positive and 11 (8.73%) were yeast. Of 98 gramnegative organisms, Acinetobacter spp was found in majority 61 (62.24%) followed by Klebsiella spp in 17 (17.34%), and Pseudomonas spp in 12 (12.24%). Of 17 gram-positive samples, Streptococcus spp was found in majority 6 (35.29%), followed by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 5 (29.41%), Staphylococcus epidermidis in 2 (11.76%), and Streptococcus Group D in 1 (5.88%). Candida was the only specie found in yeast. Acinetobacter was found highly resistant to all antibiotics except doxycycline, colistin and polymixin-b. Pseudomonas was sensitive to all the antibiotics except to ceftazidime (100% resistant). Klebsiella and MRSA showed high resistance to all the tested antibiotics.

Conclusion: Gram-negative was the most common isolated bacteria from ETT tips and tracheal aspiration. Moreover, the specific isolates pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility showed a high resistance to widely used antibiotics.