ABSTRACT

Background: The increasing resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to many antimicrobials poses a major therapeutic challenge and this is of great concern in hospitals due to rise in nosocomial infections.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to compare the antimicrobial activity of antibiotics alone and in combination with AgNO3 nanoparticles against multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Study was conducted at Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore from July 2018 till March 2019. Total 1800 samples were collected from admitted patients in a tertiary care hospital. The isolates were identified by colony morphology and different biochemical tests and confirmed by Analytical Profile Index (API). Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method.

Results: Out of 1800 samples, 90 were of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was only 5%. Antibiotic sensitivity of isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed best zones of inhibition against Colistin. Among the 90 isolated strains, 88% showed sensitive zones to colistin and only 12% were resistant. 67% isolates were sensitive and 13% showed intermediate sensitivity to Tazobactam/Piperacillin. 65%isolates were sensitive to Cefepime and 63% were sensitive to Ceftazidime. 47% and 49% strains were sensitive to aminoglycosides gentamycin and amikacin respectively. 67% isolated were susceptible to Tobramycin. 52% showed resistance to imipenem and 62% were resistant meropenem.

Conclusion: The current study revealed only 5% Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosaand highest resistance against meropenem.

Key words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Nosocomial pathogen, Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa