PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE ISOLATED FROM LOWER RESPIRATORY SAMPLES OF CANCER PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Background and Objective: Haemophilus influenzae are capsulated gram-negative coccobacilli that causes invasive respiratory tract infectios. Cancer patients being immunocompromised are more prone to a wide range of infections. CLSI approved treatment for Hemophilus influenzae includes Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Ceftazidime, Cotrimoxazole, Imipenem and Meropenem. The aim of my study was to review the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Haemophilus influenzae and to emphasize the need for Hib vaccination in our cancer patients Methods: One-year retrospective analysis of lower respiratory samples of cancer patients was performed in the Microbiology department at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Haemophilus influenzae identified on VITEK2 compact system and confirmed with factor V and X were included in the study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: The prevalence of Hemophilus influenzae isolated from lower respiratory samples was 7.5%, out of which 76.6% isolated from an age group of 18-65. No cases documented among paediatric age group. In our study most of the cases were isolated from Head and neck cancer and thoracic cancer patients that were 30% each, followed by Haematological cancer patients which was 21%. All the isolates of Haemophilus influenzae in the study were susceptible to Imipenem, Meropenem and Ceftazidime. 84.4% isolates were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, 74.4% isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin and Cotrimoxazole sensitivity was seen 31.1% of all isolates. Interpretation And Conclusions. Haemophilus influenzae cause significant respiratory tract infections in adult cancer patients. All Isolates were sensitive to meropenem, imipenem and ceftazidime, but showed resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole. This states the importance of surveillance and highlights the need for implementing Hib vaccination protocol in our adult cancer patients.