A Study of Microbial Isolates from Blood at a University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Bloodstream infections referred to as septicemia/bacteremia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The knowledge of pattern of causative microbial agents in these infections is important for their prevention and empirical antimicrobial treatment while awaiting laboratory results.
Purpose: Our aim was to identify the spectrum of common bloodstream isolates at King Edward Medical University / Mayo Hospital, Lahore.
Study design: Descriptive, cross sectional, retrospective.
Study period: Three years, April 2006 to March 2009.
Methods: At the department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, standard Manual blood culture system for isolation of aerobic microorganisms is under practice. Analysis of aerobic microbial organisms isolated from blood culture samples was conducted.
Results: Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated, accounting for 56.43% of the total blood culture isolates, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.21%), Acinetobacter spp. (11.79%) and Eschericia coli (9.64%). There was only one fungal isolate (Candida spp).
Conclusions: The present study revealed that staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated from blood. We recommend further periodic studies be carried out to know whether the pattern and range of blood culture isolates remains the same or changing.
Key words: Aerobic, Analytical study, Bacteremia, Blood culture, Microorganism, Septicemia.