A retrospective evaluation of blood cultures in a pediatric intensive care unit: a three year evaluation

In this study, it was aimed to retrospectively assess the frequency and antibiotic resistance of microorganisms isolated from blood cultures of patients in a pediatric intensive care unit.

The study was conducted on blood culture tests obtained from patients in a pediatric intensive care unit and sent to a microbiology laboratory between 2013 and 2016. The species and antibiotic susceptibilities were assessed in microorganisms isolated from the blood cultures.

Overall, 4239 blood cultures were obtained. Growth was detected in 324 blood cultures (7.6%). Of the microorganisms isolated, 195 (60.2%) were Gram-positive bacteria, and 107 (33.0%) were Gram-negative bacteria; 22 (6.8%) were fungi. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Coagulase-negative staphylococci (45.1%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (14.5%), and Enterococcus faecalis (6.5%). Among the fungi, the most common was Candida albicans (59.1%), followed by Candida parapsilosis. The resistance rate against methicillin was 89.9% in coagulase-negative staphylococci, and 66% in S. aureus strains. The resistance rate against vancomycin was 3.6% in Enterococci spp. There was no resistance against linezolid in Gram-positive microorganisms. The rate of extended-spectrum beta lactamase positivity was found as 34% in Klebsiella spp. and 100% in Escherichia coli. The resistance rate against carbapenem was 44.9% in Gram-negative bacteriae. The resistance rate against carbapenem was 100% in Acinetobacter baumanii. In Candida albicans, resistance to amphotericine B was 61.5%, and resistance to voriconazole was 7.7%.

To plan effective empiric antibiotic therapy against nosocomial infections in intensive care units, all units should have information about the characteristics of their own flora.