Objective: To determine the type of prevalent aerobic gram-negative bacilli and their sensitivity pattern among nosocomial isolates.
Design: Prospective collection of clinically significant nosocomial gram negative bacilli.
Setting: Tertiary care hospital in Karachi.
Method: One hundred isolates were identified by standard methods and minimum inhibitory concentration was checked by epsilometer test.
Results: The most frequent isolates were Eschericia coli (43%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%) Acinetobacter spp. (7%) Enterobacter spp. (7%) and Klebsiella spp. other than pneumoniae (7%). Most of the isolates of dominant species (E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) were multiresistant including third generation cephalosporins.
Conclusion: This study indicates that most effective antibiotics imipenem and amikacin inhibited most of the isolates. Imipenem alone or amikacin in combination with one broad spectrum beta-lactam drug should be used in initial empiric therapy in any life threatening nosocomial infection.