The Increased Frequency of Carbapenem Resistant Non Fermenting Gram Negative Pathogens as Causes of Health Care Associated Infections in Adult Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background and Aim: Multi drug resistant Non fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) have emerged as a major cause of health-care associated infections especially in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of NFGNB as a cause of health-care associated infections (HAI) in cancer patients and determine their resistance pattern. Patients and Methods: During the study period, 158 NFGNB isolates were collected. Microscan Walk Away 9 was used for identification and testing for the metallo- β -lactamases (MBLs) was done by Imipenem-EDTA combined disk synergy test (CDST-IPM). Results: NFGNB represented 29.0% of infections caused by gram negative organisms. Carbapenem resistance, the multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype, and MBL production were documented in 70%, 63%, and 59% of NFGNB isolates, respectively. MDR-NFGNB rates were significantly higher among hospitalized patients, medical department and those with longer duration of hospital stay ( p = 0.034 , 0.026 , 0.019; respectively) than non MDR-NFGNB. Conclusion: A high level of carbapenem and multi-drug resistance were detected among the non-fermenter pathogens isolated from hospitalized cases and were more frequently encountered in high risk adult cancer patients requiring longer duration of hospitalization. The MDR-NFGNB are constituting important causes of health-care associated infections in cancer patients.