ABSTRACT Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) remain a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, compounded by the escalating public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Aims: This study aimed to analyse the demographic characteristics, microbiological profiles and AMR patterns of pathogens isolated from suspected BSI cases in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a 1-year, cross-sectional, hospital-based investigation from March 2024 to February 2025. Blood culture bottles were incubated using an automated system (BACTEC ® ). Subsequent bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using the MicroScan WalkAway ® plus system. Yeast isolates were identified on CHROMagar ® . Results: The overall culture-positivity rate was 32%. Gram-negative isolates predominated (52%), with Klebsiella species, Escherichia coli , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa identified as the primary pathogens. Yeasts, notably Candida glabrata , accounted for 8% of the isolates. Enterobacterales demonstrated high resistance to fluoroquinolones, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, as well as notable resistance to colistin. All A . calcoaceticus-baumannii complex isolates were multidrug resistant, with 91.4% being carbapenem resistant, predominantly from intensive care units. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales accounted for 55% of isolates. Among Gram-positive isolates, Staphylococcus aureus was most frequently isolated, demonstrating maximal resistance to penicillin. Methicillin-resistant S . aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus rates were 55% and 36%, respectively. Conclusion: Continuous surveillance of BSI isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns is crucial for developing hospital-specific antibiograms and guiding the selection of effective empirical antimicrobial therapies. Such strategies are vital for mitigating antibiotic selection pressure and curbing the rise in drug resistance.
Datta et al. (Tue,) studied this question.