Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Serratia Species from Clinical Samples at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective. To determine the antibiotic resistance profile of Serratia spp isolated from various clinical specimens. Study Design and Settings: A descriptive cross-sectional study on antibiotic resistance profile of Serratia spp isolated from various clinical specimens was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from 1st July 2017 to 30th June 2021. Methodology: 464 clinical specimens yielding growth of Serratia spp were included in the study. Serratia spp were identified by using Standard Microbiological procedures. Modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used for Antibiotic Susceptibility testing. The clinical data was analyzed prospectively from July 2017 to June 2021 for a period of 4 years. The spectrum of diseases caused by Serratia spp along with resistance profiles were analyzed. . Data obtained was analysed using SPSS 24. Results: High yield of this bug was obtained from pus and tissue specimens 150 (32%).130(28%) isolates were retrieved from blood cultures, whereas respiratory specimens contributed to 89(19 %) isolates of Serratia spp. According to the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, 154 (33.3%) isolates were sensitive to Meropenem, 150(32.2%) were susceptible to Doxycycline and 118 (25.5%) to Amikacin, making them the preferred antibiotics to be used in our setup. Conclusion: Serratia marcescens isolates are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Clinical isolates of Serratia exhibited highest resistance to Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Gentamicin and Piperacillin/tazobactam