Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction and Aim: The know-how of local antibiograms is very important in the light of continuous changes in resistance patterns in different geographical niches. This retrospective observational study assessed the in vitro susceptibility pattern of pathogen isolates from different clinical samples to commonly used antibiotics including Potentox (Amikacin+Cefepime+L-arginine) in our hospital settings.

Methodology: A total of 320 isolates obtained from 1372 respiratory and urine clinical specimens from patients treated for bacterial infections during Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2017 were included in the study.

Results: Of the total 320 isolates, 75% were from urine and 25% from blood. E. coli (48.8%) was the most frequently isolated pathogen followed by K. pneumoniae (22.7%), P. aeruginosa (10.2%) and A. baumannii (10.2%). Meropenem and Potentox were the most active agents against all the isolates exhibiting 86.9% and 87.5% susceptibility rates respectively. The susceptibility to Imipenem was similar to Tigecycline (81.9%) and Amikacin was similar to Cefoperazone-Sulbactam. The lowest susceptibility rate was reported to Cefepime (55.3%) followed by Pip-taz (62.5%). The susceptibility to Colistin was 94.0%. Based on pathogen type, the highest susceptibility was reported towards E. coli and lowest towards A. baumannii. Susceptibility pattern for Amikacin and Cefepime resistant isolates were; Colistin (75.6%), Potentox (51.25%), Meropenem (50%) and Tigecycline (39%), with less than 30% susceptibility to Imipenem, Pip-taz and Cefoperazone-Sulbactam.

Conclusions: This antimicrobial susceptibility data suggest that Potentox can be considered as an important therapeutic option for the treatment of various gram-negative bacterial infections and in cases which are both Amikacin and Cefepime resistant to avoid excess consumption of carbapenems and where Tigecycline is not feasible.