Bacteriological Profile and Antibiogram of Blood Culture Isolates Using an Automated Blood Culture System in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and require prompt diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms has made the management of BSIs increasingly challenging. This study was conducted to determine the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of blood culture isolates using an automated blood culture system. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital (ASCOMS), Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, over a period of four years from January 2021 to December 2024. Blood culture samples received from patients with suspected BSIs were processed using the BD BACTEC automated blood culture system. Positive cultures were identified using standard microbiological techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the BD Phoenix M50 automated identification and susceptibility system in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. A total of 715 blood culture samples were processed, of which 190 (26.6%) yielded significant bacterial growth. Gram-positive organisms predominated, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common isolate (n = 96, 50.5%). Gram-negative organisms included Escherichia coli (n = 25, 13.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 8, 4.2%). Staphylococcus aureus showed high susceptibility to vancomycin (97.9%), linezolid (97.9%), and daptomycin (97.9%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 72.9% of S. aureus isolates. Escherichia coli demonstrated high susceptibility to amikacin (100%) and gentamicin (92%), while resistance to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones was common. Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited extensive multidrug resistance, including resistance to carbapenems. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen causing bloodstream infections, with a high prevalence of MRSA. The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, underscores the need for continuous surveillance and rational antibiotic use to guide empirical therapy and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship.

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