Non-fermentative Gram negative bacteria (NFGNB) can cause serious infections in hospitalised patients. There has been an increase in resistance to carbapenems which is worrying as they are considered as antibiotics of last resort. Carbapenemases are responsible for carbapenem resistance. Study was undertaken to evaluate antibiotic profile, to ascertain risk factors associated and to detect genes responsible for carbapenem resistance in NFGNB isolates from acute wards of a tertiary care centre. The study was carried out in an urban tertiary care centre. Samples were collected from patients of acute wards and relevant clinical history was collected. Imipenem resistance detection and antibiotic susceptibility was done. A multiplex PCR was done on imipenem resistant isolates for detection of resistant genes. A total of 296 isolates were collected. Acinetobacter baumannii (132) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (121) were the predominant isolates. OXA-51(72) and NDM were the predominant genes detected in Imipenem resistant A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (39). The carbapenem resistance in NFGNB in our hospital setting is mostly because of VIM, NDM, OXA-23, OXA-51. Constant monitoring of the incidence of such organisms in critical areas of the hospital, prompt recognition and getting rid of them is the only important preventive strategy.

Download this article as