Pathogenic bacteria recovered from Gene X-pert tuberculosis-negative adult patients in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) caused by drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria is a major problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pathogenic bacteria and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among Gene X-pert tuberculosis-negative adult patients with clinically suspected LRTIs at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: This institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 01 to March 15, 2020. Socio-demographic data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. A total of 254 sputum specimens were collected from Gene X-pert tuberculosis-negative patients. Bacterial recovery was performed using blood, chocolate, and MacConkey agar plates. Bacterial isolates were identified based on Gram staining, colony characteristics, and biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Methicillin resistance of S. aureus was confirmed using cefoxitin (30 µg). Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable and results are shown in tables and figures. RESULTS: In this study, the overall sputum culture positivity rate was 145/254 (57.1%). Gram-negative bacteria 111 (64.9%) were predominant compared to Gram-positive bacteria 60 (35.1%). Of the 145 culture-positive cases, 26 (14.8%) had poly-bacterial infections. S. aureus 40 (66.7%) was the predominant Gram-positive bacterium whereas K. pneumoniae 33 (29.7%), was the most isolated Gram-negative bacterium. Bacterial species, such as S. aureus were sensitive to ciprofloxacin 38/40 (95.0%), gentamicin 37/40 (92.5%), cefoxitin 36/40 (90.0%), and clindamycin 34/40 (85.0%). The proportion of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was low, 4(10.0%). S. pneumoniae was sensitive to chloramphenicol 8/9 (88.9%) and resistant to ciprofloxacin 6/9 (66.7%). K pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Serratia species, and H. influenzae also demonstrated high levels of resistance to ampicillin at rates of 21/33 (63.6%), 8/8 (100.0%), 15/17 (88.2%), 7/10 (70.0%), and 6/6 (100.0%), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a higher burden of Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacterial agents, which is responsible for LRTs. Therefore, routine sputum culture identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed in Gene X-pert tuberculosis-negative patients.