Bacterial Profile and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern from Different Clinical Specimens at Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital, Dhaka

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global public health issue, leading to prolonged illness, increased morbidity and mortality, and rising healthcare costs. The effectiveness of antibiotics is diminishing due to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. This study aimed to determine the bacterial profile and AMR patterns of clinical isolates at Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital (UAMCH), Dhaka. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at UAMCH from January 2017 to December 2019. A total of 32,187 clinical specimens (urine, blood, stool, wound swabs/pus, and sputum) were processed, of which 4232 yielded positive cultures. Bacterial identification followed standard bacteriological methods, and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method per CLSI guidelines. Data analysis was conducted using WHONET and QAAPT. Results: The highest proportion of positive cultures was from urine (47.5%), followed by blood (35.0%) and wound swabs/pus (10.1%). The most common isolates were Escherichia coli (37.2%), Salmonella typhi (25.7%), and Klebsiella sp. (11.5%). Gram-negative bacteria showed high resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefixime, and ceftriaxone, while the resistance rates were lower for gentamicin, amikacin, and meropenem. However, Acinetobacter sp. exhibited alarming resistance to all tested antibiotics. Conclusions: This study highlights concerning resistance patterns among bacterial isolates, emphasizing the need for ongoing AMR surveillance to inform treatment strategies and improve patient care in Bangladesh.