Detection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Patients in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia is a major cause of higher morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients especially in intensive care unit despite of recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. It occurs mainly among Gram negative pathogens. Most of the bacteria are multidrug resistant bacteria including penicillin’s, 3rd generation of cephalosporins and carbapenems. Objective: To isolate and identify bacteria from ventilator associated pneumonia in intensive care unit patients with their antibiogram in rajshahi medical college hospital. Materials Method: A Cross-sectional type of descriptive study was done during the period of July 2017 to June 2018. Endotracheal aspirates were collected from VAP patients in intensive care units of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The specimens were inoculated in blood agar, nutrient agar and MacConkey’s agar media and incubated aerobically at 370 C for 24 hours. The isolated bacteria were identified by their colony morphology, pigment production, hemolysis on blood agar plate, motility test, Gram staining and relevant biochemical tests. Susceptibility tests of the bacterial isolates were done by using the modified Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar media. Results: Out of a total 80 samples, Culture yielded growth were 71(88.75%) and 09(11.25%) had yielded no growth. Among the culture positive isolates, Gram negative organisms were higher 57(80.30%) than gram positive 14(19.70%). P. aeruginosa 24(33.8%) was the predominant organism followed by S. aureus 14(19.7%), Klebsiella spp. 11(15.5%), Acinetobacter spp. 10(14.1%) and E. coli 8(11.3%). Among 71 isolates, 41(57.8%) were MDR pathogens. Conclusion: It may be concluded that, most of the isolated bacteria isolated from VAP are multidrug resistant and causes complicated life-threatening infections. Due to the increasing incidence of multidrug resistant bacteria in ICU, early and correct diagnosis of VAP is an urgent challenge for an optimal antibiotic treatment.