Clinical and microbiological investigation of gram negative bacteria in the blood circulation

Increasing bloodstream infections and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially in children, is a serious health problem of worldwide concern. Blood samples were taken from 150 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of bloodstream infection in the pediatric intensive care units of city hospitals in Baghdad. Bacteria isolation and identification were performed from these samples. Then, antibiotic susceptibility test and MIC values were determined. OXA-51, ISAba1, Intl1 and Intl2 genes in isolates showing multiple antimicrobial resistance were investigated by PCR and positive results were sequenced. It was found that 34% of the isolates were Gram negative bacteria. Among the detected bacteria, A. baumannii was found to have the highest resistance to levofloxacin. The highest rates of resistance to tigecycline were seen in E. coli and K. pneumoniae. While blaOXA-51 and ISAba1 genes were detected in A. baumannii isolates, they could not be detected in E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. In particular, the prevalence of Intl1 (97%) and Intl2 (100%) was high in E. coli isolates. This rate was found to be 98% in K. pneumoniae isolates. In conclusion, the current study reveals that the distribution of common bacteria and their antimicrobial susceptibility differ significantly between "BSIs and PICUs".