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[Distribution of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms among newborn infants in an intensive care unit]
Abstract:
Bacteriological assay of the nasal, fauces and feces microflora of 40 newborns of the Department of Intensive Therapy revealed their primary colonization with various opportunistic microorganisms from the environment. Sensitivity of the isolates to 15 antibiotics was tested. It was shown that multiple resistance strains predominated. The staphylococcal strains were mainly resistant to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin and polymyxin. The enterococci were most frequently resistant to methicillin, lincomycin, kanamycin, monomycin and neomycin. Tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistant strains of E. coli were detected. Marked resistance to carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephuroxim and cephaloridin and high sensitivity to cephotaxim and gentamicin were determined in the Klebsiella strains with the method of serial dilutions on solid media. The presence of opportunistic microorganisms with multiple resistance to antibiotics, ate appearance of the own microflora and decreased immunological defence may be the cause of infection in newborns of departments of intensive therapy. Circulation of antibiotic-resistant strains in departments for newborns is fraught with a threat of hospital infections.
Insights
Newborns in intensive therapy wards are colonized by opportunistic microbes resistant to multiple antibiotics. This antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat of hospital-acquired infections in vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are critical environments for vulnerable newborns.
- Opportunistic microorganisms can colonize newborns, leading to potential infections.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern, particularly in hospital settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the microflora of newborns in an Intensive Therapy Department.
- To determine the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolated microorganisms.
- To identify the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains in this population.
Main Methods:
- Bacteriological analysis of nasal, fauces, and fecal samples from 40 newborns.
- Testing isolate sensitivity to 15 different antibiotics.
- Utilizing serial dilutions on solid media for quantitative analysis.
Main Results:
- Predominance of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, E. coli, and Klebsiella.
- Specific resistance patterns observed: Staphylococci (benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, polymyxin), Enterococci (methicillin, lincomycin, kanamycin, monomycin, neomycin), E. coli (tetracycline, chloramphenicol), Klebsiella (carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephuroxim, cephaloridin).
- Klebsiella strains showed high sensitivity to cephotaxim and gentamicin.
Conclusions:
- Environmental opportunistic microorganisms with multi-drug resistance colonize newborns in intensive therapy.
- Reduced host immunological defense and altered microflora contribute to infection risk.
- The circulation of antibiotic-resistant strains in neonatal units presents a significant threat of hospital-acquired infections.