Search

Background Acute infectious diseases and sepsis are among the leading causes of mortality in Ethiopia. The lack of local data concerning causative pathogens and resistance patterns results in suboptimal empirical treatment and unfavorable clinical outcome. The objective of this study was the characterization of bacterial pathogens in hospitalized patients with febrile infections in Central Ethiopia. Methods In total, 684 patients ≥1 year of age with fever admitted to the Asella Teaching Hospital from April 2016 to June 2018 were included. Blood and other appropriate clinical specimens were cultured. Susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer method and VITEK2. Confirmation of species identification and identification of resistance genes were conducted using MALDI-ToF and PCR at a microbiology laboratory in Düsseldorf, Germany. Results In total, 684 study participants were included; 54% were male and mean age was 26.7 years. Thus, the overall culture positivity rate was 7.5%. Of the 83 cultured organisms, 38(46%) were Gram-negative, 43(52%) Gram-positive, and 2(2%) Candida species. Among the 38 Gram-negative isolates, 16(42%) were E. coli , 15(39%) K. pneumoniae , and 4(11%) P. aeruginosa. Resistance against commonly used antibiotics for Gram-negative at the study site was: piperacillin/tazobactam 48%(13), ampicillin/sulbactam 93% (25), cefotaxime 89%(24), ceftazidime 74%(20), Cefipime 74%(20), meropenem 7%(2), amikacin 4% (1) and gentamicin 56%(15). Of 27 Gram-negative available for resistance-gene detection, blaNDM-1 was detected in one K. pneumoniae isolate and blaNDM-1 plus blaOXA-51 in A. baumannii. 81%(22/27) of the Gram-negative rods were confirmed to contain ESBL-genes as follows: TEM 17(77%), CTX-M-1-group 15(68%), SHV-6(27%) and CTX-M-9-group 2(9%). Among isolated S.aureus, 1(5%) was confirmed to be Methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Conclusion We found a high prevalence (81%) of ESBL-producing bacteria and 7.4% carbapenem resistance at the study site. More than half of Gram-negative isolates had two or more mobile resistance genes. These findings warrant the need for local national multidrug-resistant surveillance. Strengthening of antimicrobial stewardship programs is needed in order to face the threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]