Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Presumably Sterile Sites and their Drug Susceptibility at a University Hospital in North India

The objective of this study was to identify commonly isolated bacteria from the body fluid samples and access their antibiotic sensitivity pattern.

All body fluid samples (except blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and contaminated samples) received in the Bacteriology section of the Department of Microbiology from November 2019 to May 2020 were included in our study.

Out of 363 samples of body fluids, 113 (31.12%) were found to be positive for bacterial culture and sensitivity. Male predominance among liver disease patients was deemed statistically significant when compared to those without liver disease. Comorbidities such as hypertension and encephalopathy were statistically significant in patients with liver disease compared to those without liver disease. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated bacteria (20.35%) which was followed by Pseudomonas spp (15.92%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.50%). Fifty-one (45.13%) isolates in our study were Multidrug-resistant. In our investigation, cancer patients had statistically significant MDR microbe isolation from bodily fluid samples. With the Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) character and total resistance to Carbapenems, Klebsiella pneumoniae was considered the most resistant MDR bacterium. However, all isolates were vulnerable to Colistin. This study aids in the empirical treatment of patients based on antibiotic susceptibility patterns by displaying the range of bacterial isolates identified from bodily fluid samples collected in our laboratory. It also emphasises the importance of adhering to antibiotic sensitivity results and infection control practises in the hospital setting to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant infections.