1Assistant professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital, Tumkuru, Karnataka
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Akash Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka
3Infection Control Officer, Dept. of Hospital Infection Control, Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka
*Corresponding Author: Email: drksoumya@yahoo.in
Online published on 20 June, 2017.
Emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms is an important public health concern especially in developing countries. The present study was carried out to assess the current antimicrobial pattern of multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli.
346 consecutive, non-duplicate isolates of E. coli isolated during a period of two years were included in the study. The numbers of multi-drug resistant isolates were determined. Their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index were determined.
Among the 346 isolates of E. coli, 297 (85.84%) were multi-drug resistant with 61.3% of the isolates being resistant to drugs in more than five antimicrobial categories. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index of 82.7% of isolates was found to be greater than 0.2. Carbapenems, aminoglycosides, Chloramphenicol and Nitrofurantoin were found to be the most effective agents against MDR E.coli.
Antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria are ever-changing and periodic evaluation of resistance phenotypes of isolates is essential for the formulation of appropriate antibiotic policy and initiation of pertinent empirical therapy.
Antibiogram, Escherichia coli, Multi-drug Resistance, Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index, Antibiotic Resistance Phenotypes
