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Resistance of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli isolated from blood cultures from an emergency hospital

Resistência de bacilos Gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados de hemoculturas de um hospital de emergência

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) are a heterogeneous group of microorganisms that do not have the ability to ferment carbohydrates as a way to obtain energy. There are more than 120 species classified as pathogenic, among them, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkholderia cepacia. Infections caused by these microorganisms are mostly acquired in the hospital environment, since they are opportunistic pathogens and are among the most important bacteria of greater clinical and epidemiological relevance.

Objective:

This study evaluated the resistance profile of NFGNB isolated from blood cultures at an emergency hospital in the city of Caruaru, Agreste Pernambuco (PE), Brazil.

Methods:

The strains present in the blood cultures were isolated on culture media MacConkey and Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) agar. The samples were also submitted to the oxidase test and the polymyxin resistance test, in addition to the Gram staining, to better identify NFGNB bacterial genera. An antibiogram test was carried out to verify the resistance profile.

Results:

It was found that from 87 (100%) isolated and analyzed strains, 11 (13%) were classified as NFGNB. The genus Acinetobacter sp. was the most frequently found (55%). The Acinetobacter sp. strains were resistant to gentamicin, meropenem, imipenem, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone.

Conclusion:

Screening of resistant NFGNB isolated, as well as greater attention to hospital-acquired infection control practices and epidemiological surveillance systems, in addition to continued care with regard to the targeted use of antibiotics can contribute to successful this battle against infections by these microorganisms.

Key words:
hospital-acquired infection; Gram-negative bacteria; antibacterial agents.

RESUMO

Introdução:

Os bacilos Gram-negativos não fermentadores (BGNNF) são um grupo heterogêneo de microrganismos que não possuem a capacidade de fermentar carboidratos como forma de obtenção de energia. Possuem mais de 120 espécies classificadas como patogênicas, destacando-se entre elas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia e Burkholderia cepacia. As infecções causadas por esses microrganismos são, em sua maioria, adquiridas nos ambientes hospitalares, já que se tratam de patógenos oportunistas, estando entre as bactérias de maior relevância clínica e epidemiológica.

Objetivo:

Este trabalho avaliou o perfil de resistência dos BGNNF isolados de hemoculturas em um hospital de emergência na cidade de Caruaru, no Agreste Pernambuco (PE), Brasil.

Métodos:

As cepas presentes nas hemoculturas foram isoladas nos meios de cultura ágar MacConkey e ágar Triple Sugar Iron (TSI). As amostras também foram submetidas ao teste de oxidase e ao teste de resistência a polimixina, além da coloração de Gram, para melhor identificação dos gêneros bacterianos de BGNNF. Foi realizado o antibiograma para verificação do perfil de resistência.

Resultados:

Verificou-se que das 87 (100%) cepas isoladas e analisadas, 11 (13%) foram classificadas como BGNNF. O gênero Acinetobacter sp. foi o mais frequente (55%). As cepas de Acinetobacter sp. apresentaram-se resistentes a gentamicina, meropenem, imipenem, amicacina, ciprofloxacina, ceftazidima e ceftriaxona.

Conclusão:

O rastreamento de isolados de BGNNF resistentes, bem como uma maior atenção às práticas de controle de infecção hospitalar e sistemas de vigilância epidemiológica, além do cuidado contínuo em relação ao uso direcionado de antibióticos podem contribuir no combate a infecções por esses microrganismos.

Unitermos:
infecção hospitalar; bactérias Gram-negativas; antibacterianos

INTRODUCTION

Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) are a heterogeneous group of microorganisms that do not have the ability to ferment carbohydrates as a way of obtaining energy. They are widely distributed in nature, and can be found in water, soil, and plants. More than 120 species of NFGNB were classified as pathogenic, highlighting the following as etiological agents involved in most hospital-acquired infections: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkholderia cepacia. The pathologies caused by these microorganisms are mostly acquired in hospital environments, since they are opportunistic pathogens, and the importance of these infections has been increasing since the 1970s(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.

2 Gales AC, Jones RN, Andrade SS, Sader HS. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of unusual nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli isolated from Latin America: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1997-2002). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005; 100(6): 571-7.

3 Menezes EA, Macedo FVV, Cunha FA, Andrade MSS, Rocha MVAP. Perfil de infecção e resistência aos antimicrobianos de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados no laboratório de patologia clínica Dr. Edilson Gurgel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza-CE. RBAC. 2004; 36(4): 209-12.
-44 Radice M, Marin M, Giovanakis M, et al. Criterios de ensayo, interpretación e informe de las pruebas de sensibilidad a los antibióticos en los bacilos gram negativos no fermentadores de importancia clínica: recomendaciones de la Subcomisión de Antimicrobianos de la Sociedad Argentina de Bacteriología, Micología y Parasitología Clínicas, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2011; 43: 136-53.). NFGNB are among the most clinically and epidemiologically relevant bacteria, however the phenotypic diagnose is not easy in clinical microbiology laboratories, requiring more attention regarding the practice used, and there may be difficulties with the sensitivity and resistance tests of these pathogens(22 Gales AC, Jones RN, Andrade SS, Sader HS. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of unusual nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli isolated from Latin America: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1997-2002). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005; 100(6): 571-7.,33 Menezes EA, Macedo FVV, Cunha FA, Andrade MSS, Rocha MVAP. Perfil de infecção e resistência aos antimicrobianos de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados no laboratório de patologia clínica Dr. Edilson Gurgel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza-CE. RBAC. 2004; 36(4): 209-12.,55 Freire ILS, Araújo RO, Vasconcelos QLDAQ, Menezes LCC, Costa KF, Torres GV. Perfil microbiológico, de sensibilidade e resistência bacteriana das hemoculturas de unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Rev Enferm UFSM. 2013 set/dez; 3(3): 429-39.,66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.).

Hospital-acquired infections are those acquired after patient admission, and may occur during hospitalization or after discharge(77 Pontes VMO, Menezes EA, Cunha FA, Ângelo MRF, Salviano MNC, Oliveira IRN. Perfil de resistência de Acinetobacter baumannii a antimicrobianos nas unidades de terapia intensiva e semi-intensiva do hospital geral de Fortaleza. RBAC. 2006; 38(2): 123-6.). NFGNB is found with a high frequency in the bronchial tree, especially in immunosuppressed and cystic fibrosis patients, which has been shown to be a problem because these bacteria acquire high resistance to a wide variety of drugs, including penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines,

fluoroquinolones, trimetropim-sulfamethoxazole, carbapenems and polymixins, the latter is widely used in the treatment of P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. infections(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.,33 Menezes EA, Macedo FVV, Cunha FA, Andrade MSS, Rocha MVAP. Perfil de infecção e resistência aos antimicrobianos de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados no laboratório de patologia clínica Dr. Edilson Gurgel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza-CE. RBAC. 2004; 36(4): 209-12.,44 Radice M, Marin M, Giovanakis M, et al. Criterios de ensayo, interpretación e informe de las pruebas de sensibilidad a los antibióticos en los bacilos gram negativos no fermentadores de importancia clínica: recomendaciones de la Subcomisión de Antimicrobianos de la Sociedad Argentina de Bacteriología, Micología y Parasitología Clínicas, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2011; 43: 136-53.,66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.,88 Magalhães M, Britto MCA, Bezerra PGM, Veras A. Prevalência de bactérias potencialmente patogênicas em espécimes respiratórios de fibrocísticos de Recife. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2004; 40(4): 223-7.,99 Marques EA. Perfil microbiológico da fibrose cística. Rev Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, UER. 2011; 10(4): 23-35.). The current limitation in the use of antibiotics against NFGNB is due, among other reasons, to its abusive use, often incorrectly applied by some health professionals, which causes a selection of resistant bacteria, making its treatment difficult. The analysis of the degree of sensitivity and resistance of NFGNB is essential for a better understanding of the epidemiology of infections caused by such microorganisms, besides contributing with the proposition of new therapeutic schemes to battle them more efficiently(33 Menezes EA, Macedo FVV, Cunha FA, Andrade MSS, Rocha MVAP. Perfil de infecção e resistência aos antimicrobianos de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados no laboratório de patologia clínica Dr. Edilson Gurgel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza-CE. RBAC. 2004; 36(4): 209-12.,77 Pontes VMO, Menezes EA, Cunha FA, Ângelo MRF, Salviano MNC, Oliveira IRN. Perfil de resistência de Acinetobacter baumannii a antimicrobianos nas unidades de terapia intensiva e semi-intensiva do hospital geral de Fortaleza. RBAC. 2006; 38(2): 123-6.,1010 McGowan Jr JE. Resistance in nonfermentinhg gram-negative bacteria: multidrug resistance to the maximum. Am J Med. 2006; 34(5 Suppl 1): 29-36.).

One of the most important laboratory tests in the diagnosis of sepsis, very common in intensive care units (ICUs) of emergency hospitals, is the blood culture used to isolate and identify pathogenic microorganisms in the blood of a patient who is thought to have a systemic infection, which represents one of the most severe complications of the infectious process, making it significant in relation to its predictive value, since its result will directly reflect on the therapeutics to be adopted by health professionals(55 Freire ILS, Araújo RO, Vasconcelos QLDAQ, Menezes LCC, Costa KF, Torres GV. Perfil microbiológico, de sensibilidade e resistência bacteriana das hemoculturas de unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Rev Enferm UFSM. 2013 set/dez; 3(3): 429-39.).

Therefore, this study aimed to determine the resistance profile of NFGNB, isolated and phenotypically identified from blood cultures of hospitalized patients in a public emergency hospital in the city of Caruaru, in the Agreste Pernambuco, Brazil.

METHODS

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional laboratory study, which analyzed the blood cultures obtained from the clinical pathology laboratory of an emergency hospital in the city of Caruaru, Agreste Pernambucano, from April to October, 2015. The beginning of the study occurred after the approval by the ethics committee (CAAE: 36690214.5.0000.5203) of the Asces College.

The samples were sent, under ideal conditions of transport, to the Laboratory of Microbiology of the Asces College for the necessary microbiological procedures. Using a 3 ml syringe, about 0.25 ml of the blood sample from the blood cultures was aspirated. After aspiration, for macroscopic visualization, the material was seeded by depletion in Sheep Blood Agar and MacConkey Agar media, the plates were incubated in an oven at 35ºC-37ºC for 18 to 24 hours.

The Gram-negative bacteria which have grown on MacConkey agar were seeded on Triplice Sugar Iron (TSI) Agar in order to visualize the absence of sugar fermentation. After this proof, they were submitted to the oxidase test, and then, to the polymyxin-B resistance test and the Gram staining for initial phenotypic laboratory identification of the main bacterial genera belonging to the NFGNB group (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Simplified flowchart of isolation and identification of the main NFGNB in hospital blood cultures

NFGNB: non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli; TSI: triple sugar iron.


The NFGNB, once identified, were submitted to the antibiogram by the Bauer-Kirby disk diffusion method(1111 Piaskowski CA, Yamanaka EHU, Romanel M. Manual para antibiograma. Técnica de difusão por disco. Laborclin produtos para laboratórios Ltda. Pinhais-PR. Maio, 2007.) to analyze the sensitivity profile to the main antibiotics used against NFGNB and to verify the presence of bacterial resistance. To perform the assay, the suspension of the test bacterium, adjusted to the standard of 0.5 on the McFarland scale, was inoculated onto the surface of the Mueller-Hinton agar plate. Subsequently, antimicrobial discs were placed and the plates were incubated in a bacteriological oven at a temperature of 35ºC-37ºC for 18 to 24 hours, the whole procedure was performed in a sterile way.

The method was performed following the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2015, as well as the choice of the antimicrobial discs that were used(1212 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Perfomance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Twenty-second informational supplement M100-S22. 2015; 35(3).).

RESULTS

From the total of 95 blood cultures analyzed, 87 (92%) were positive, showing bacterial growth, while eight (8%) were negative, with no growth of microorganism. Among the positive blood cultures, 57 (66%) were from male individuals and 30 (34%) from female.

Among the identified bacteria, 11% were classified as belonging to the NFGNB group. Acinetobacter sp. was the genus most frequently found (55%), followed by Pseudomonas sp. (18%), Stenotrophomonas sp. (18%) and Burkholderia sp. (9%) (Figure 2).

Figure 2
NFGNB genera isolated from blood cultures analysis

NFGNB: non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli.

1. Acinetobacter sp.; 2. Pseudomonas sp.; 3. Stenotrophomonas sp.; 4. Burkholderia sp.


In general, regarding the profile of sensitivity and resistance, the Acinetobacter sp. strains were resistant to gentamicin, meropenem, imipenem, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. The Pseudomonas sp. strains showed sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials: gentamicin, meropenem, imipenem, amikacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ceftazidime and cefepime. All of Stenotrophomonas sp. strains presented resistance to ceftriaxone and 50% of them showed resistance to both levofloxacin and chloramphenicol. The Burkholderia sp. strains were sensitive to the antibiotics tested (Table).

TABLE
Sensitivity and resistance profile of NFGNB isolated from blood cultures

Carbapenems, despite being a class of antibiotics highly recommended against resistant hospital bacteria, showed reduced effectiveness against the NFGNB strains analyzed in this study, showing, in general, 71% resistance.

DISCUSSION

NFGNB represented about 13% of the microorganisms found in the positive blood cultures in this study, data lower than that demonstrated by Grillo et al. (2013)(66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.) with 28.3% of isolates, and greater than those of Deliberali et al. (2011)(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.) with 2.18%.

Acinetobacter sp. has been considered the second NFGNB most frequently found in the laboratory studies of this genus, behind only the Pseusdomonas sp., however the present study showed a prevalence of 55% for Acinetobacter sp. and only 18% for Pseudomonas sp., in contrast to Grillo et al. (2013)(66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.) study, in which Pseudomonas sp. reached a prevalence of 47% and to Deliberali et al. (2011)(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.), who showed 65% in their study. The increased frequency of hospital-acquired infections associated with Acinetobacter sp. and the rapid development of resistance of these microorganisms have become a serious public health problem(1313 Martins AF, Barth AL. Acinetobacter multirresistente - um desafio para a saúde pública. Scientia Med (Porto Alegre). 2013; 23(1): 56-62.,1414 Bier KES, Luiz SO, Scheffer MC, et al. Temporal evolution of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. Am J Infect control. 2010; 38(4): 308-14.).

The Acinetobacter sp. strains demonstrated sensitivity exclusively to minocycline (40%), an antibiotic belonging to the tetracycline group. In a previous study, carried out by Deliberali et al. (2011)(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.) there was less sensitivity to tetracycline (10.4%). A study by Pontes et al. (2006)(77 Pontes VMO, Menezes EA, Cunha FA, Ângelo MRF, Salviano MNC, Oliveira IRN. Perfil de resistência de Acinetobacter baumannii a antimicrobianos nas unidades de terapia intensiva e semi-intensiva do hospital geral de Fortaleza. RBAC. 2006; 38(2): 123-6.) demonstrated sensitivity of Acinetobacter sp. isolates to quinolones and imipenem.

Results from Grillo et al. (2013)(66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.) presented significant resistance (> 90%) of Pseudomonas sp. in relation to the third generation cephalosporins, such as ceftriaxone. In this study, ceftriaxone was 100% effective against the Pseudomonas sp. strains. This bacterium has great clinical relevance, especially when associated with patients who are intubated or using venous catheters, as is the case of the majority of ICU patients(66 Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.,88 Magalhães M, Britto MCA, Bezerra PGM, Veras A. Prevalência de bactérias potencialmente patogênicas em espécimes respiratórios de fibrocísticos de Recife. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2004; 40(4): 223-7.,1515 Marques PB, Vieira ABR, Farias MG. Perfil de suscetibilidade a antibióticos de amostras de Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas no centro de diagnóstico da Unimed Belém-Pará. RBAC. 2007; 39(3): 175-7.,1616 Picoli SU. Metalo-beta-lactamase e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RBAC. 2008; 40(4): 237-77.).

The Stenotrophomonas sp., often isolated from clinical specimens, represented 18% of the strains found in the study, presenting total resistance to ceftazidime, and 50% resistance to both levofloxacin and chloramphenicol. It is a NFGNB of great importance, intrinsically resistant to a wide variety of antimicrobials, due to the presence of enzymes that inactivate various antibiotics, the impermeability of the outer membrane and the presence of efflux pumps to a multiplicity of drugs. Therefore, the treatment of infections caused by Stenotrophomonas sp. requires great attention(44 Radice M, Marin M, Giovanakis M, et al. Criterios de ensayo, interpretación e informe de las pruebas de sensibilidad a los antibióticos en los bacilos gram negativos no fermentadores de importancia clínica: recomendaciones de la Subcomisión de Antimicrobianos de la Sociedad Argentina de Bacteriología, Micología y Parasitología Clínicas, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2011; 43: 136-53.,1717 Garcia DO, Timenetsky J, Martinez MB, Francisco W, Sinto SI, Yanaguita RM. Proteases (caseinase and elastase), hemolysins, adhesion and susceptibility to antimicrobials of stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates obtainedfrom clinical specimens. Braz J Microbiol. 2002; 33: 157-62.).

The Burkholderia sp., known as an important opportunistic pathogen, especially in hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised patients or with cystic fibrosis(44 Radice M, Marin M, Giovanakis M, et al. Criterios de ensayo, interpretación e informe de las pruebas de sensibilidad a los antibióticos en los bacilos gram negativos no fermentadores de importancia clínica: recomendaciones de la Subcomisión de Antimicrobianos de la Sociedad Argentina de Bacteriología, Micología y Parasitología Clínicas, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2011; 43: 136-53.), was the NFGNB less prevalent in this study, representing 9% of the isolates, which differs from the percentage found in the Magalhães et al. (2004)(88 Magalhães M, Britto MCA, Bezerra PGM, Veras A. Prevalência de bactérias potencialmente patogênicas em espécimes respiratórios de fibrocísticos de Recife. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2004; 40(4): 223-7.) study, which presented a prevalence of 29.2% of these strains. There was no significant resistance of the Burkholderia sp. strains evidenced in this study with sensitivity to the antibiotics tested: ceftriaxone, levofloxacin and chloramphenicol.

Carbapenems are known to be potent agents for the treatment of NFGNB infections, especially in hospitals, but studies have already shown a reduction in its efficacy(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.,1313 Martins AF, Barth AL. Acinetobacter multirresistente - um desafio para a saúde pública. Scientia Med (Porto Alegre). 2013; 23(1): 56-62.

14 Bier KES, Luiz SO, Scheffer MC, et al. Temporal evolution of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. Am J Infect control. 2010; 38(4): 308-14.
-1515 Marques PB, Vieira ABR, Farias MG. Perfil de suscetibilidade a antibióticos de amostras de Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas no centro de diagnóstico da Unimed Belém-Pará. RBAC. 2007; 39(3): 175-7.). The study by Deliberalli et al. (2011)(11 Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.) presented 32.8% and 37.1% of NFGNB isolates resistant to imipenem and meropenem, respectively. This study detected significant resistance to carbapenems with regard to Acinetobacter sp. isolates (100%), showing greater resistance to imipenem and meropenem when compared to the aforementioned study.

No carbapenem has been shown to be more effective than the other, unlike the study by Marques et al. (2007)(1515 Marques PB, Vieira ABR, Farias MG. Perfil de suscetibilidade a antibióticos de amostras de Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas no centro de diagnóstico da Unimed Belém-Pará. RBAC. 2007; 39(3): 175-7.), in which meropenem showed resistance greater (52.1%) than imipenem (32.9%). Inappropriate use of this class of drugs may exert selective pressure on nosocomial pathogens, leading to increased bacterial resistance to them due to the selection of less sensitive subpopulations(1616 Picoli SU. Metalo-beta-lactamase e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RBAC. 2008; 40(4): 237-77.).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the importance of monitoring the resistance profile of NFGNB in blood cultures of hospitalized patients. This practice can contribute to the implementation of practices in partnership with the Commission for Control of Hospital-Acquired Infections [Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar (CCIH)] and with the epidemiological surveillance, in order to promote improvements in the key measures for the management of hospital-acquired infections, also contributing to a better targeting in the use of inpatient antibiotics.

Despite their low prevalence in routine in relation to other etiological agents, NFGNB are of significant importance, since they constitute an imminent risk to the hospitalized patients, also by the fact that these bacteria present decreased sensitivity to a large number of drugs. Studies like this, carried out periodically in the hospital environment, may help to control resistance rates, considering that microbiological data contribute to the choice of the most appropriate therapy for each patient.

ACKNOWLEDGES

To the Laboratory of Microbiology of the Hospital Regional do Agreste, due to the availability of the blood cultures analyzed, and to the Asces College, for the financial support and availability of the infrastructure of the institution's school laboratory.

REFERENCES

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    Deliberali B, Myiamoto KN, Winckler Neto CHP, et al. Prevalência de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores de pacientes internados em Porto Alegre-RS. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2011; 47(5): 529-34.
  • 2
    Gales AC, Jones RN, Andrade SS, Sader HS. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of unusual nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli isolated from Latin America: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1997-2002). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005; 100(6): 571-7.
  • 3
    Menezes EA, Macedo FVV, Cunha FA, Andrade MSS, Rocha MVAP. Perfil de infecção e resistência aos antimicrobianos de bacilos gram-negativos não fermentadores isolados no laboratório de patologia clínica Dr. Edilson Gurgel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza-CE. RBAC. 2004; 36(4): 209-12.
  • 4
    Radice M, Marin M, Giovanakis M, et al. Criterios de ensayo, interpretación e informe de las pruebas de sensibilidad a los antibióticos en los bacilos gram negativos no fermentadores de importancia clínica: recomendaciones de la Subcomisión de Antimicrobianos de la Sociedad Argentina de Bacteriología, Micología y Parasitología Clínicas, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2011; 43: 136-53.
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    Freire ILS, Araújo RO, Vasconcelos QLDAQ, Menezes LCC, Costa KF, Torres GV. Perfil microbiológico, de sensibilidade e resistência bacteriana das hemoculturas de unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Rev Enferm UFSM. 2013 set/dez; 3(3): 429-39.
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    Grillo VTRS, Gonçalves TG, Campos Júnior J, Paniágua NC, Teles CBG. Incidência bacteriana e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos de um hospital público de Rondônia, Brasil. Rev Ciênc Farm Básica Apl. 2013; 34(1): 117-23.
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    Pontes VMO, Menezes EA, Cunha FA, Ângelo MRF, Salviano MNC, Oliveira IRN. Perfil de resistência de Acinetobacter baumannii a antimicrobianos nas unidades de terapia intensiva e semi-intensiva do hospital geral de Fortaleza. RBAC. 2006; 38(2): 123-6.
  • 8
    Magalhães M, Britto MCA, Bezerra PGM, Veras A. Prevalência de bactérias potencialmente patogênicas em espécimes respiratórios de fibrocísticos de Recife. J Bras Patol Med Lab. 2004; 40(4): 223-7.
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    Marques EA. Perfil microbiológico da fibrose cística. Rev Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, UER. 2011; 10(4): 23-35.
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    McGowan Jr JE. Resistance in nonfermentinhg gram-negative bacteria: multidrug resistance to the maximum. Am J Med. 2006; 34(5 Suppl 1): 29-36.
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    Piaskowski CA, Yamanaka EHU, Romanel M. Manual para antibiograma. Técnica de difusão por disco. Laborclin produtos para laboratórios Ltda. Pinhais-PR. Maio, 2007.
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    Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Perfomance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Twenty-second informational supplement M100-S22. 2015; 35(3).
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Mar-Apr 2017

History

  • Received
    31 Aug 2016
  • Reviewed
    01 Nov 2016
  • Accepted
    26 Jan 2017
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