Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern of Sputum and Nasopharyngeal Swab in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Lesson from a Specialized Shishu (Children) Hospital in Bangladesh.

Infection control in Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients plays a crucial role in improving the survival of patients with CF. Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in these patient groups in our country are currently lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the microbiological cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of pediatric CF patients. A total of 50 respiratory samples were prospectively collected from the patients with CF got admitted in the Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Bangladesh from February 2021 to October 2021. Sputum and nasopharyngeal swabs were processed for culture and microbiological testing. Sample collection and evaluation were performed according to the Good Laboratory Practice guidelines (GLP). Informed written consent was ensured before participation. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v26.0. The median age of the children was 30 months (6-120) months, with a male predominance (66.0% vs. 34.0%). Single and two organisms were isolated in 72.0% (n=36) and 12.0% (n=6) of cases, respectively. During the study period, 36.0% of the patients harbored Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 18.0% harbored Klebsiella pneumoniae and both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were detected in 16.0% of cases. Levofloxacin was found to be the most active antibiotic agent with 100.0% susceptibility. In contrast, nearly all isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, erythromycin and rifampicin. Levofloxacin is the most effective agent to treat CF patients. Active surveillance of the resistance pattern should always continue to be promoted.