Trends of Antimicrobial Sensitivity Among Common Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi

Objective: To evaluate the resistance patterns of frequently found pathogens to different antimicrobial agents, aiding physicians in choosing appropriate treatment strategies for patients within our locality. Materials and Method: This retrospective observational study took place at Pakistan Railway hospital (PRH) Rawalpindi; from January 2021 to December 2021. Data was obtained from the institute's database, the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS). Pathogens were identified in the laboratory through Gram staining and biochemical tests, and their antibiotic sensitivity profiles using disk diffusion method assessed following protocols established by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24, and data entry was carried out accordingly. Results: Overall, 1128 positive cultures were reported in study period including urine, pus, HVS, sputum cultures, stool, blood, catheter tip, and others (tissue fluid, wound, and cannula tip etc.). They comprised 32.8 %, 30.9 %, 16.6%, 5.05 %, 3.81%, 3.72 %, 1.15%, 0.70 % and 0.08% of the other specimens respectively. Among the isolates, Escherichia coli revealed 31.4% resistance against one of the third-generation cephalosporin and 8% to imipenem while Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited 58.7% resistance. Moreover 82% Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to oxacillin, and 6% to vancomycin. Conclusion: Moderate to reduced susceptibility to frequently utilized antimicrobials has been noted across diverse gram-positive and gram-negative species, apart from Penicillin. To address the escalating resistance to carbapenems and cephalosporins, it is essential to establish and enforce rigorous infection control measures.