Vol. 1, Issue 4, Part F (2015)

Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out at a tertiary hospital for a duration of 12 months. This study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Madha Medical College, & Research Institute, Kundrathur Road, Kovur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India from February 2014 to January 2015. Blood samples were obtained from patients in the CCU who exhibited clinical signs and symptoms indicative of probable bloodstream infections, including fever, hypotension, or disturbed mental status. Blood cultures were conducted by established microbiological methods. Pathogen identification was conducted with automated systems and biochemical assays. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Data about patient demographics, preexisting conditions, and outcomes were collected and analysed.

Results: The research comprised 250 patients in total. Of the patients, 65 (26%), had infections in their bloodstreams. The majority of infections were caused by Gram-negative bacteria (58%), with the most prevalent isolates being Escherichia coli (21%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%). The majority of the cases (36%), with Staphylococcus aureus being the most commonly isolated organism (15%), were caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Six percent of cases were found to have fungal infections, specifically Candida species. Twenty-five percent of the cases had bacteria that were resistant to more than one antibiotic. This included K. pneumoniae and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli. Patients with bloodstream infections had a 32% overall fatality rate, with that number rising for infections caused by MDR-COV.

Conclusion: Critically sick patients continue to be at high risk for bloodstream infections, the most prevalent of which are caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. To reduce the occurrence of bloodstream infections in intensive care units, it is crucial to enhance infection control measures and establish antibiotic stewardship initiatives.