Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Clinical Isolates from A Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide, posing a serious threat to the effective treatment of infectious diseases. This study aimed to identify bacterial isolates among various clinical samples and to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility profile. This observational study was carried out from January to December, 2022 in the Department of Microbiology at Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital (UAMCH). Clinical samples such as urine, sputum, blood and wound swabs were collected from different body site infections that occurred among patients who visited the hospital within the study period. These samples were sent to the microbiology laboratory for processing, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Standard microbiological protocols were followed. Among 12,337 clinical samples only 1,679 (13.60%) yielded bacterial growth. Rate of bacterial growth was highest in wound swab (46.36%). Out of culture-positive cases, Escherichia coli was the most predominant one which accounted for 565 (37.16%) of all the bacterial isolates, followed by Salmonella Typhi 408 (24.30%) and Klebsiella species 208 (12.40%). In case of Escherichia coli increased level of susceptibility were observed in case of meropenem (99.75%), amikacin (90.78%), nitrofurantoin (85.79%), gentamicin (83.99%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (71.13%). Increased susceptibility of Klebsiella species were observed for meropenem (93.50%), amikacin (89.17%) and gentamicin (88.64%). All the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation of cephalosporins showed reduce level of susceptibility towards Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. All the isolates of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A were susceptible to ceftriaxone and meropenem and almost all the strains of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A were resistant to ciprofloxacin. All the isolates of Gram positive organisms were susceptible towards linezolid and vancomycin. In conclusion, the study highlights the concerning trends in antimicrobial susceptibility among bacterial isolates, emphasizing the need for continuous surveillance, antibiogram, rational antibiotic use and the implementation of effective infection control measures to combat this growing public health threat.