ABSTRACT

Objective: To provide an overview of the development of an institution-specific epidemiological antibiogram. Emphasis was on last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems.

Methods: In 2013, the antibiograms of various organisms were retrieved from the computerized database of the Microscan (Siemens Healthcare) at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Sangre Grande Hospital in East Trinidad, West Indies. These were divided into blood and urine specimen antibiograms. All the wards and hospital clinics were included. A 20% cut-off was used to determine that a particular antibiotic or antibiotic class could be used for empiric therapy. All the organisms were not chosen. Only the most common and clinically relevant organisms were chosen.

Results: Blood: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis: Imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem showed greater than 80% sensitivity, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin and tazobactam/piperacillin showed 100%, 80%, 80%, 100% and 100% sensitivity, respectively. Urines: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis: Imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, were greater than 80% sensitive. Enterobacter cloacae: Imipenem, meropenem were 92%, 100% sensitive. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: tazobactam-piperacillin and amikacin were both 85% susceptible. Acinetobacter baumanii/haemolyticus: All the antibiotics were above the 20% resistance threshold.

Conclusion: Patient-specific antibiograms and unit-specific trends (eg, ICU, surgical wards and outpatient clinic) can be used as a guide in patients with less severe infections. Carbapenems can still be used empirically, in East Trinidad, for sepsis.