A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of the changing Antibiogram Pattern of Blood Isolates

Mohankumar Appadurai; Alice Peace Selvabai; Priyadarshini Shanmugam

Mohankumar Appadurai Research Scholar, Department of Microbiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India
Alice Peace Selvabai Professor, Department of Microbiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India
Priyadarshini Shanmugam Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India

Keywords: Bloodstream Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance, Intensive Care Units, Gram-Negative Bacilli

Abstract

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) pose significant clinical challenges due to drug-resistant organisms, increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
Aim: This retrospective study analyses antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns in pathogens isolated from BSIs at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, over a decade, from 2013 to 2023.
Methods: Paired blood samples were inoculated into BacT/Alert media bottles and incubated in a Bactec automated blood culture system. Positive samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar
plates, and pathogens were identified by their colony morphology and biochemical reactions. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test how sensitive the bacteria are to antibiotics, following guidelines from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).
Results: Findings show higher Gram-negative bacilli prevalence, peaking in 2023, with higher infection rates in paediatric patients and males. ICUs were primary BSI sites. Teicoplanin and vancomycin were CoNS (SosA)istently effective, while penicillin’s efficacy fluctuated. Sensitivity to cotrimoxazole and cefepime has increased over time.
Conclusion: These results highlight the critical need for continuous surveillance and robust infection control measures to combat AMR and improve BSI treatment outcomes. Enhanced antimicrobial stewardship programmes are crucial for highlighting the increasing threat of drug-resistant pathogens.

How to cite this article:
Appaduari M, Selvabai A P, Shanmugam P. A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of the changing Antibiogram Pattern of Blood Isolates. J Commun Dis. 2025;57(2):6-12.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202531

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