Epidemiology and resistance pattern of bacterial isolates among cancer patients in a Tertiary Care Oncology Centre in North India.

<bold>Objectives: </bold>To examine the epidemiology of microbiologically documented bacterial infection and the resistance pattern, among cancer patients undergoing treatment at RGCIRC, Delhi.<bold>Design and Setting: </bold>Retrospective observational study in which culture reports obtained over 1 year in 2013, were analyzed.<bold>Results: </bold>13329 cultures were obtained over 1 year in 2013 and were analyzed. 23.6 % samples showed positive culture with majority being gram negative isolates (67.9 %). E. coli was the commonest gram negative isolate (49.4%) followed by klebsella (29.7%) and Staph. aureus was the commonest gram positive isolate. There was high incidence of ESBL in blood and urine (87.2% & 88.5%) and BLBLI were also high (78% & 83.9%). Carbapenem resistance was comparatively low (10%) and colistin sensitivity was quiet high (> 95%).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Prevalence of MRSA and VRE in our institute is very less, whereas prevalence of ESBLs and BLBLI isolates amongst gram negative infections is around 80%. Gram negative isolates had poor sensitivity to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]