Paediatric nosocomial infections: resistance pattern of clinical isolates

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose significant risks to patients, particularly children.
• Developing countries like Pakistan face extreme challenges due to poor hygiene and inadequate infection control measures.
• Pediatric populations exhibit higher susceptibility and prevalence rates for nosocomial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct surveillance for common nosocomial pathogens in pediatric hospital settings.
• To determine the incidence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of these pathogens.
• To identify effective antimicrobial agents against prevalent nosocomial infections in children.

Main Methods:

• Collection of 124 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa/Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA), and Klebsiella species from pediatric hospitals in Karachi.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.
• Evaluation of resistance patterns against selected antimicrobials.

Main Results:

• Isolates demonstrated resistance to most tested antimicrobial agents.
• Carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem), amikacin, and vancomycin showed effectiveness, particularly against MRSA/BRSA.
• Fucidic acid and some 3rd-generation cephalosporins were also found to be effective.

Conclusions:

• Nosocomial pathogens in pediatric settings exhibit high levels of antimicrobial resistance.
• Effective treatment options include carbapenems, amikacin, and vancomycin, with specific utility against resistant strains.
• Judicious use of effective antimicrobials is crucial for managing pediatric HAIs in resource-limited settings.