Culture profile and antibiogram of infective organisms from endotracheal secretions in mechanically ventilated patients of a tertiary care centre

Abstract Introduction: Mechanical ventilation, while life-saving, increases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), commonly due to colonization of the lower respiratory tract by multidrug-resistant pathogens. Understanding local microbial patterns and resistance profiles is critical for optimizing empirical therapy and improving ICU outcomes. Aims and Objectives · To analyzed the culture profile and antibiogram of infective organisms isolated from endotracheal secretions in mechanically ventilated patients. · To Approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee, and written informed consent was secured from the patients’ caregivers or legal representatives. Material and Method: Study Design: Cross Sectional Study Study Period: The study was conducted over six months June 2023–November 2023. Study Place: Department of Microbiology, M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat. Sample Size: Total sample size 113. Study Population: Patients scheduled for elective microbiology laboratory Sampling Method: Susceptibility Testing Result: In total, 113 samples were processed. tracheal aspirates were 113, with males (47/113) outnumbered females (26/113). Out of a total of 113 samples, 73 (64.40%) were culture-positive and 40 (36.60%) were sterile. Acinetobacter spp. was the most common pathogen among 72 culture positives (27/73, 36.98%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (21/73, 28.50%), Pseudomonas spp. (13/73, 17.80%), and Escherichia coli (8/73, 9.59%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6/73, 8.22%). Conclusion: The study highlights the growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in ventilated ICU patients, emphasizing the need for ongoing microbiological surveillance and judicious antimicrobial use to reduce morbidity and mortality.