Evaluation of Bacterial Infections in Bahraini Pediatric Patients From A Tertiary Care Hospital – A Prospective Study

Background & Objective: Children are prone to a plethora of infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of most common microorganisms isolated from the bacterial cultures infecting pediatric patients and their resistance to antibiotics in Bahrain. Methods: This prospective study included 1146 isolates collected from pediatric patients of Bahrain. Demographic details such as age, gender, and nationality were recorded for each of the patients. Samples were cultured using different nutrient media (MacConkey agar, Sheep blood agar etc.), and analysis was done using standard microbiological techniques and Vitex automated analyzer. Application of Kirby- Bauer procedure and Vitex aided in the assessment of antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Proportion test was used to calculate the study outcomes. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Streptococcus group A (52.98%) and E. coli (35.97%) were the two most common microorganisms observed in pediatric patients. A high prevalence of Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), Campylobacter sp., and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were also observed (P<0.001). A majority of the organisms were identified from urine (27.66%) and throat cultures (25.22%). E-coli showed significant resistance towards trimethoprim /sulfamethoxazole (22.97%) and amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (20.19%). Susceptibility patterns of gentamicin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin showed significant association with the isolates. Odds of susceptibility of amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (2.89 times), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (2.29 times) was more for gram-positive isolates but for ciprofloxacin (2.08 times), which was more for gram-negative isolates. Conclusion: Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were unique among the pediatric patients of Bahrain. Keywords: Anti-bacterial Agents, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Escherichia coli, Child, Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.