Nosocomial bacterial infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among patients in Ugandan intensive care units: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThe intensive care unit (ICU) admits critically ill patients requiring advanced airway, respiratory, cardiac and renal support. Despite the highly-specialized interventions, the mortality and morbidity is still high due to a number of reasons including nosocomial infections, which are the most likely complications in hospitalized patients with the rates being highest among ICU patients.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study of 111 adult patients admitted to 2 of the ICUs in Uganda, we set out to describe the commonest bacterial infections, their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and factors associated with development of a nosocomial infection.Results Klebsiella pneumoniae (30%), Acinetobacter species (22%) and Staphylococcus aureus (14%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria. The prevalence of multidrug resistant bacterial species was 58%; 50% Escherichia coli and 33.3% Klebsiella pneumoniae were extended spectrum beta lactamase or AmpC beta lactamase producers and 9.1% Acinetobacter species were extensive drug resistant. Imipenem was the antibiotic with the highest susceptibility rates across most bacterial species. Institution of ventilator support (P 0.003) and severe traumatic brain injury (P 0.035) were highly associated with the development of nosocomial infections.ConclusionDue to the high prevalence of multi drug resistant (MDR) and extensive drug resistant bacterial species, there is a need for development of strong policies on antibiotic stewardship, antimicrobial surveillance and infection control to help guide empirical antibiotic therapy and prevent the spread of MDR bacteria and antibiotic drug resistance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2695-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…First, antimicrobial resistance is common in sub-Saharan Africa [23] and can crucially reduce the beneficial effects of antimicrobial therapy. Because antimicrobial resistance patterns for the study region were not available, we could not be sure whether antimicrobial therapy as per the study protocol was appropriate and truly effective.…”

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“…A study by Agaba et al, (2017) revealed that the major isolated bacteria in nosocomial bacterial infections in Ugandan intensive care units were Klebsiella pneumoniae (30%), Acinetobacter spp. 22%, Staphylococcus aureus 14% and the MDR E. coli (50%) [5].…”

Microbial communities profiling in intensive care units expose limitations in current sanitary standards

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