High carbapenem resistance in gram negative bacterial isolates: An outcome study

Introduction: Carbapenems are used as mainstay therapy of infections caused by ESBL producing gram-ve bacterias. High mortality and increased hospital stay are associated with carbapenem resistance.We examined pattern of carbapenem resistance and mortality in gram-ve bacterial isolates in ICU at tertiary care hospital. Method: We retrospectively analyzed 65 positive culture reports of gram-ve organisms in 58 patients over period of 4 months. Specimens included blood, tracheal secretions, sputum & urine. MIC levels were not available. Carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae was defined as CLSI 2011. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, resistance pattern to carbapenems were analysed. Results: Carbapenem sensitivity & mortality profile are given in View this table: Sensitivity & Mortality pattern Conclusion: Study reveals a high resistance to carbapenems. Klebsiella pneumoniae has highest mortality. Using current definition, there is no mortality difference in carbapenem sensitive or resistant Klebsiella and this does not match with current evidence.