Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns among Pediatric Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh: A Retrospective Study

Background: Bacterial infections are a major cause of morbidity among hospitalized pediatric patients in low- and middle-income countries. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has significantly limited the effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics, making empirical treatment more challenging. Regular surveillance of local bacteriological profiles and antibiotic susceptibility patterns is essential to guide appropriate clinical management. Objective: To evaluate the bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility patterns among pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2024 to January 2026. A total of 155 admitted pediatric patients (excluding neonates) with culture-positive bacterial infections were included in the study. Clinical specimens were processed using standard microbiological techniques and bacterial identification along with antibiotic susceptibility was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 155culture-positive cases were analyzed. Gram-negative organisms were the predominant isolates. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most commonly identified pathogens. Gram-positive organisms accounted for a smaller proportion of isolates. High resistance was observed against commonly used first-line antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cotrimoxazole. In contrast relatively higher sensitivity was noted to third-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems and selected reserve antibiotics. A significant proportion of isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance. Conclusion: This study highlights a high burden of Gram-negative bacterial infections and significant antimicrobial resistance among hospitalized pediatric patients. Continuous monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs are essential to optimize empirical therapy and reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in Bangladesh.