Background: Bacterial bloodstream infections (BSI) are a major problem for health care personnel's, which leads to high morbidity and mortality of patients. Early and timely diagnosis and appropriate medication will be the best way to save the lives of affected ones. Aim:The aim of the present study was to determine the bacterial profile of bloodstream infections and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory, Popular diagnostic Ltd, Dhanmondi, Dhaka over a three months periods, from November' 2017 to January' 2018. A total 822 blood culture samples were screened. The positive blood cultures were examined and the organisms were identified as per standard procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for all isolates by using disk diffusion technique, according to CLSI guidelines 27.Results: From total blood culture samples, 105 (12.77%) were positive. The most common isolated pathogens were Salmonella Typhi, 59 (56.19.5%). Other isolates are Salmonella paratyphi A & B, 11(10.47%); Eschericia coli 14 (13.33%); Klebsiella spp, 05(04.76%); Acinetobacter spp.11 (10.47%) Enterococcus spp. 02 (01.90%); Staphylococcus aureus, 02 (01.90%) and one Candida spp (0.95%). S. Typhi showed 100% sensitivity against Ceftriaxone and Cefixime, and also more than 80% sensitive against first-line drugs (Chloramphenicol and Co-trimoxazole). Almost all the strains were found resistant towards Nalidixic acid (sensitivity 05.71%). Most of the Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp were susceptible to Vancomycin and Linezolid. More than 80% of E. coli and Klebsiella spp.are sensitive to Imipenem and Meropenem and least sensitivity show against Ciprofloxacin, Cephradine and Ceftriaxone. Conclusion:Ongoing surveillance for antimicrobial susceptibility remains essential, and will enhance efforts to identify resistance and attempt to limit its spread. Antimicrobial susceptibility testAntimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) media according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines 27 12 and antibiotic disc from OXOID CO. Minimum distance of the disc were 24 mm from center to center. Zone of inhibition were measured in millimeters after 24 hours of incubation.

Background: Candida species are responsible for various clinical infections ranging from mucocutaneous infection to life threatening invasive diseases. Recently there is a serious concern with increased resistance of antifungal drugs and its consequences. Thus, identification of Candida and its antifungal susceptibility testing has a paramount significance in the management of Candidal infections. The aim of the study was to determine antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida by Mueller-Hinton agar media supplemented with glucose and methylene blue for disk diffusion testing of fluconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, amphotericin B and nystatin. Methods: A total of 35 Candida species was isolated from 2000 clinical specimens over 6 month’s period from July 2016 to December 2016. Growths on Blood agar and chromogenic agar were evaluated for colony appearance and microscopic examination. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion using Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with glucose and methylene blue. Results: Candida species were more sensitive to clotrimazole (88.58%) and amphotericin B (88.58%) followed by nystatin ((77.14%), miconazole (74.29%) whereas fluconazole showed the highest level of resistance (60%). Conclusions: The increase in resistance to fluconazole is of serious concern as it is the most commonly used azole for candidiasis. The sensitivity profile of Candida isolates will be helpful to choose appropriate antifungal agents, thus decreasing patient’s morbidity and mortality. J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 28, No.1, April, 2019, Page 28-33

The present article provides an overview of the new diagnostic options available for diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis, which include liquid based culture and susceptibility tests. To effectively address the threats of drug resistant tuberculosis, global initiatives are required to scale-up culture and drug susceptibility testing capacities. In parallel efforts are needed to expand the use of new technologies for rapid diagnosis of drug resistance.The study was carried out at National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Mohakhali, Dhaka, which is the only tertiary- level chest disease hospital for the treatment of referred patients from all over the country. One morning sputum sample was taken from each of the 50 suspected new pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 50 samples from previously treated group included patients who did not complete the full regimen or those who did not respond to antibiotic treatment. All samples were cultured on sula liquid media for 12 days. Sensitivity tests against isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), streptomycin (SM) and ethambutol (EMB), gatifloxacin (G),kanamycin (K) and ofloxacin (OF) were done by slide culture  method. Sensitivity test against P-nitro benzoic acid (PNB) were also done to differentiate typical Mycobacterium from atypical Mycobacterium.Among the 50 isolated new cases 98% were sensitive to isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin. Regarding resistant pattern for MDR-TB to second line drugs, 2% were resistant to kanamycin and 10% to ofloxacin.One MDR-TB which was resistant to kanamycin was also resistant to ofloxacin. Hence it was identified as extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).No atypical Mycobacteria were detected by PNB.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v7i2.19329 Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2013; 07(02): 17-20

Antimicrobial stewardship refers to a set of coordinated strategies to improve the use of antimicrobial medications with the goal of enhancing patient health outcomes, reducing resistance to antibiotics and decreasing unnecessary costs. While clinical microbiologists with clinical pharmacists are considered the main leaders of antimicrobial stewardship programs, clinical microbiologists can play a key role in these programs. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive discussion of the different components of antimicrobial stewardship in which microbiology laboratories and clinical microbiologists can make significant contributions, including cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility reports, enhanced culture, and guidance in the pre analytic phase, rapid diagnostic test availability, provider education, and alert and surveillance systems. Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2019; 13 (2): 25-29

Abstract