Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Enterococci Isolates from Nosocomial Infections in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz City

Enterococci are opportunistic bacteria that can become pathogenic if colonized. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics by Enterococci causing nosocomial infections is of concern, which necessitates judicious, responsible and evidence-based use of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of antibiotic resistance of Enterococci isolated from patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz City, Iran.

The data of this cross-sectional description study were collected from October to March 2019 in the Microbiology Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz City, Iran. Ninety samples of patients aged 1 to 99 years with infection caused by Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were included. The samples included urine culture, wound swab, vaginal swab, blood culture, catheter, sputum, broncho-aspirate, cerebrospinal fluid and other cases (abscess, drainage, ascites fluid, pleural fluid, culture fluid and purulent material). The antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates was measured using the agar disk diffusion method.

Enterococci were collected from 53 urine samples, 10 blood samples, 1 cerebrospinal fluid sample, 1 abscess sample, 2 cornea samples, 9 wound samples and 14 other secretion samples. The resistance of enterococcus strains against ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, imipenem and nalidixic acid was 66.7%, 42.6%, 55.6% and 93.3%, respectively. The highest sensitivity of Enterococcus isolates against ampicillin (42.6%) was observed. 43.3% of the samples obtained were from men and 56.7% from women.

Based on the results of this study, a significant percentage of Enterococci strains are resistant to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and nalidixic acid. Over-the-counter and unnecessary use of available antibiotics should be avoided to prevent increased resistance to common antibiotics.