Nosocomial bloodstream infections in a Turkish university hospital: study of Gram-negative bacilli and their sensitivity patterns

Treatment of nosocomial bacteraemia is usually governed by the surveillance results of the particular unit. Such results are especially important when antimicrobial resistance rates are high. Multiresistant isolates including Gram-negatives producing extended-spectrum p-lactamases have been frequent ly reported in tertiary care units in Turkey. In this study, antimicrobial susceptibilities of Gram-negative blood isolates (n = 348) were determined by microbroth dilution tests. The results showed carbapenems (meropenem and imipenem) to be uniformly more potent in vitro than any other drug against the Enterobacteriaceae. Quinolone antibiotics were more active in vitro th an aminoglycosides against a range of bacteria. Gram-negative bloodstream i solates were highly resistant to many antimicrobial agents in the hospital. In order to prevent hospital infection and antimicrobial resistance. surve illance of aetiological agents must be performed regularly. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reser ved.