NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION DUE TO ENTEROBACTER-CLOACAE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN INDIA

A total of 151 Enterobacter cloacae strains isolated from clinical sam ples (n = 139) and the hospital environment (n = 12) at a tertiary car e hospital in northern India during January to October 1993, were anal ysed. The maximum isolations were during May (n = 24), June (n = 23) a nd July (n = 22). Urinary tract infection (n = 56) was the most common complication of E. cloacea infection followed by wound infection (42) , respiratory tract infection (23) and bacteraemia/septicaemia (18). T he frequency of resistance to different drugs was ampicillin 77.4 per cent, cotrimoxazole 79.5 per cent, gentamicin 57.5 per cent, cefotaxim e 47 per cent and ofloxacin 36 per cent. Sixty three (41.7%) strains e xhibited resistance to multiple drugs. Environmental isolates from bed , hospital diet, hand swab and water from a leaking drain pipe in a wa rd showed the same resistance pattern. A single index strain could not be identified using phage and biotyping, indicating that a variety of strains were responsible for the nosocomial infection. Adoption of st rict aseptic measures and repair of the pipe brought down the infectio n rate.