title: Investigation of the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens causing nosocomial infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the resistance patterns of bacteria causing nosocomial infections. The outcome of this resistance was followed for 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out during 2000 to 2002 at a university hospital in Turkey. The resistance patterns of 570 bacteria (390 Gram-negative, 180 Gram-positive) against meropenem, imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, ciprofloxacin and tobramycin were investigated using the E-test. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was determined using ceftazidime and ceftazidime/clavulanic acid E-test strips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meropenem was the most effective antibiotic against Gram-negative organisms (89.0%); this was followed by imipenem (87.2%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (66.4%). The most active antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria was imipenem (87.2%) and this was followed by piperacillin/tazobactam (81.7%) and meropenem (77.8%). The rates of production of ESBL by Escherichia coli were 20.9%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 50% and Serratia marcescens were 46.7%. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production increased each year (21.7%, 22.1% and 45.5%). All of the ESBL producing isolates were sensitive to meropenem and 98.5% sensitive to imipenem. AmpC beta-lactamase was produced by 20.9% of the Enterobacter species spp, Citrobacter spp. and Serratia marcescens. All of these were sensitive to meropenem and 77.8% to imipenem and ciprofloxacin. Multi-drug resistance rates in Acinetobacter spp were 45.4% and 37.7% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As in the entire world, resistance to antibiotics is a serious problem in our country. Solving of this problem depends primarily on prevention of the development of resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey. kyaman@cu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Akgun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tasova
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kibar
authors.forename: Ayse S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saltoglu
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Buyukcelik
authors.forename: Behice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.forename: Ismail H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Dundar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents