Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern in Enterococcus species. Isolated from Different Clinical Samples at North West General Hospital, KP Pakistan

Objectives: The aim of the study to determine frequency and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Enterococcus species isolated from different clinical samples. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted during period of June and December 2023 in Northwest General Hospital and Research Center. All the samples were processed by inoculating on bacteriological media. Identification of the organisms was done on the basis of colonial characteristics, Gram staining and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolated organisms was done according to Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: A total of 385 different clinical samples were examined. Overall prevalence of Enterococcal species was 31.9%. Patients belongs to age groups 31-40 year and >50 year were found more susceptible to Enterococcal species. According on antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, the treatments of choice for treating urinary tract infection and bacteremia caused by Enterococcal species were amoxicillin, linezolid, tigecyclin, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and vancomycin. Conclusion: It has been concluded that prevalence of Enterococcus species was higher in urine and blood samples. There is a notable trend of antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus feacium than Enterococcus feacalis. It has been observed that patients who were 50 years of age or older were susceptible to both Enterococcal species