Evaluation of blood cultures in a children's hospital located in Southeastern Anatolia.
OBJECTIVE
Bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality despite antimicrobial therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment of these infections is crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from blood cultures in a children's hospital in the Southeastern Anatolia during an 18-month period.


METHODS
7 040 blood cultures which were sent from hospitalized patients in Gaziantep Children's Hospital between 01.07.2010 and 01.01.2012 were evaluated.


RESULTS
A total of 7 040 blood cultures were evaluated in this study. Microbial growth was detected in 2075 (29.47%) blood cultures. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (%45.97) which were followed by Salmonella spp. (%7.8). 12.12% of enterococcal isolates were resistant to glycopeptide antibiotics. The most frequently isolated gram negative bacterium was Salmonella spp. 15.43% of Salmonella spp. showed decreased susceptibility against quinolones. The ESBL positivity rate of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains was found to be 35.08% and 57.14%, respectively. The imipenem resistance rate of P. aeruginosa was found to be 33.33%. The most common nonfermentative bacterium was S. maltophilia.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of bacteria isolated from blood cultures and antibiotic resistance rates differ among different regions of Turkey. Different results obtained in our study may be related with regional tendencies to infections and patient population. Distribution of infectious agents and antibiotic resistance rates should be evaluated at regular intervals. This will lead to establishment of proper antibiotic usage policies in our country.
Medical Microbiology Unit, Gaziantep Children's Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Reyhan
R
Yiş
Child; Southeastern Anatolia; blood culture