Indiscriminate or extensive use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents has largely contributed to the spontaneous development of resistance of bacterial pathogens to antibiotics. Hence, there is a need to determine the prevalent pathogenic microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility in hospitals. The general objective of the study is to determine the commonly-occurring bacterial pathogens in a hospital and to identify the susceptibility of these to antimicrobial agents. Specific objectives include: (1) to determine the occurrences of these pathogens in terms of body site (from which the organism was isolated) and clinical and special areas in the hospital; (2) to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these bacterial pathogens; and (3) to illustrate the trend of antimicrobial susceptibility of these pathogens to antimicrobial agents for a three year period (2012-2014). A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted to determine the frequency distribution of the bacterial pathogens for the year 2014 and identify their susceptibility patterns to antimicrobials over a three-year period (2012-2014). The research investigators reviewed laboratory records of different types of specimens from all inpatient and outpatient subjects that were submitted to the Philippine Orthopedic Center Laboratory Department (POCLD) for culture and sensitivity testing daily from January 2012-December 2014. The data were then collated and tabulated for statistical analysis using Epi InfoTM version 7. The research study underwent a technical review by the POC Research Committee (POCRC) and an ethical review by the POC Ethics Review Board (POCERB). Results showed that in 2014, gram-negative bacteria, Enterobacter spp. and Proteus spp., and gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, were the most commonly occurring bacterial pathogens in this institution. Most of the bacterial pathogens were from the respiratory tract, urine, and wound. The clinical and special areas where most of the bacterial pathogens were obtained came from Spinal/Rehabilitation ward, followed by the Observation Unit, and Male Service A. Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are most susceptible to cefepime, amikacin, and ceftazidime while gram-positive pathogens are most susceptible to vancomycin and gentamycin. From 2012-2014, there was a decrease in susceptibility of Enterobacter spp. to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid while the susceptibility profiles for Proteus spp. remained steady for most agents except for cefazolin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid which showed an increased resistance rate. Similarly, the susceptibility profiles for Staphylococcus aureus remained steady for almost all the agents for the study period except for an increased resistance to amoxicillin in 2014. In conclusion, the study showed that the variability in the resistance patterns might be attributed to the status of antibiotic use in the hospital. Fostering rational antibiotic use is an important step in formulating infection control guidelines that will match the unique setting of the institution.
Bacteria ; Anti-Infective Agents