European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ISOLATION AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF ACINETOBACTER IN SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Miss. Ifshana Shafi*, Miss. Inara Bashir, Mr. Peerzada Mohammad Idrees, Mr. Shaikh Anaitullah, Mr. Shuiab Altaf

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Acinetobacter has become a significant concern in hospitals, particularly among critically ill
patients in intensive care units. This study aimed to assess the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Acinetobacter species in patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit of our hospital. The finding will help
guide timely interventions to prevent the spread of these pathogens, protect patients from ineffective treatments,
and reinforce infection control practices. Material and Methods: This Prospective study was conducted in the
Department of Microbiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Sher I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences,
Soura, J&K, from February to July 2024. Samples were cultured on 5% sheep blood agar and MacConkey agar,
followed by overnight aerobic incubation at 37◦C. After the isolation of typical colonies, identification was carried
out using standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed in accordance with
CLSI guidelines. Results: a total of 80 unique samples were collected from the surgical ICU. Of which, 50
samples exhibited microbial growth, while 30 were sterile. Of the 50 positive samples, 30 isolates of
Acinetobacter species were identified. The highest proportion of isolates (23.3%) was found in the 60-70 age
group, with the majority (96.6%) obtained from tracheal aspirates. Additionally, 25 patients had extended hospital
stays of 7 days or more before Acinetibacter was isolated, whereas only 5 patients had been hospitalized for 7 days
or less prior to the isolation. Among the patients, 28 were on ventilator support. Resistance was observed in 29
isolates (96.6%) for both Amikacin and Tobramycin. High resistance rates were also noted for tetracycline,
Tigecycline, Gentamycin, Levofloxacin, and Cefotaxime, with 93.3% of isolates being resistant to each.
Additionally, 27 isolates (90%) were resistant to Cefepime, and 86.6% showed resistance to both Meropenem and
Imipenem. However all Acinetobacter isolates were sensitive to Polymyxin B, while 19 isolates (63.3%) were
sensitive to Peperacillin-Tazobactam. Conclusion: Risk factors such as advanced age, ventilator support, and
prolonged hospital stay in ICU patients should heighten suspicion of MDR Acinetobacter infection. Antibiotic
therapy should be initiated only after conducting susceptibility testing.

Keywords: MDR Acinetobacter in ICU, Nosocomial Infections, Antibiotic Resistance.