Meropenem Resistance among Acinetobacter Positive Clinical Samples in a Tertiary Care Centre in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter species are implicated in a variety of infections including nosocomial bacteraemia, secondary meningitis and urinary tract infections. Carbapenem including meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter is recognized as one of the most difficult antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative bacilli to control and treat. It was classified as an urgent threat by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of meropenem resistance among acinetobacter positive clinical samples in a tertiary care centre. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in microbiology department of Clinical Laboratory Services among Acinetobacter positive clinical samples of a tertiary care center in Nepal. The culture and sensitivity reports of various clinical samples from April 2018 to April 2020 which were positive for Acinetobacter species were taken from hospital records section. Convenience sampling was done. Meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter samples were studied. Ethical approval was received from Institutional Review Committee (Ref No. 076/77/40). Analysis of data was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval calculated with ferquency. RESULTS: Out of 121 Acinetobacter isolates, prevalence of meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter was reported in 93 (76.9%) at 95% Confidence Interval (69.39-84.40). Among the meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter samples, most of the samples were collected from the sputum 70 (75.2%) followed by blood 8 (8.6%). CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter species in our hospital setting is alarming. In addition, there is emergence of resistance against even the last resort drugs which is creating a treatment crisis.