Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from community-acquired pneumonia patients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia

Background: Knowing etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is important in reducing the morbidity and mortality. Objective : To determine the bacterial etiologies and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from patients with CAP. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2012. Sputum and blood specimens were collected, and microbiological investigations were performed using standard procedures. Data were presented using descriptive statistics. Results : Bacterial isolates from both sputum and blood cultures of patients were similar. Most common bacterial isolates from gram-positive bacteria were Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10.5%) and from gram-negative bacteria were, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.8%), Klebsiella. pneumoniae (5.3%), and Escherichia coli 3.8%. Most S. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to oxacillin (55%). High resistance rates of S. aureus isolates were observed to tetracycline (100%), penicillin (81.3%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (81.3%), erythromycin (75%), and doxycycline (50%). Gram-negative bacteria isolates were resistant to tetracycline (66.7-100%), doxycycline (50-100%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (66.7-100%), and ampicillin (66.7-100%). Resistance to two or more drugs was also observed among 62.7% of bacterial isolates. Conclusion: High rate of antimicrobial resistance was observed to commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents for CAP as empiric therapy.