Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of ESKAPE Pathogens Isolated from Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital
Abstract: Background: The rapid emergence and global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent a severe threat to contemporary healthcare systems, particularly within Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The "ESKAPE" pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) are the primary drivers of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) capable of evading conventional antimicrobial agents. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical specimen distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of ESKAPE pathogens isolated from patients admitted to various ICUs at a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, India. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at KIMS, Hyderabad, over a 12-month period (April 2024 to March 2025). Clinical specimens (blood, urine, respiratory aspirates, exudates) from ICU patients aged 18-80 years with an ICU stay ≥48 hours were processed. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) were performed using the Vitek 2 Compact automated system. Results: Out of 5,247 processed clinical samples, 1,596 demonstrated significant microbial growth, yielding an overall culture positivity rate of 30.41%. ESKAPE pathogens constituted the majority, accounting for 55.2% (n=881) of all positive cultures. The mean age of the infected population was 52.35±17.25 years, with a pronounced male predominance (65.2%). The Medical ICU (MICU) contributed the highest proportion of ESKAPE isolates (60.6%), followed by the Surgical ICU (SICU) at 30.4%. Blood specimens were the most frequent source of ESKAPE strains (40.1%). Gram-negative bacilli strongly predominated (75.9%), led by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (41.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (21.7%, with 52.4% oxacillin resistance/MRSA), and Acinetobacter baumannii (16.5%). Widespread resistance was observed against fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Carbapenem resistance exceeded 57% globally among Gram-negative isolates, though tigecycline (86.8% overall susceptibility) and glycopeptides (vancomycin 100% susceptibility in staphylococci) retained strong in vitro activity. Conclusion: This study highlights a critical burden of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens within adult ICUs. The high prevalence of carbapenem resistance and emerging resistance to last-line therapies underscores the imperative for continuous local institutional surveillance, strict infection control measures, and aggressive antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Keywords: ESKAPE Pathogens, Antimicrobial Resistance, Intensive Care Unit, Antibiogram, Carbapenem Resistance, Vitek 2
How to Cite?: Dr. Velamuri Abhishek, Dr. Shiva Priya Eswaran, "Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of ESKAPE Pathogens Isolated from Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 463-469, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261007103132, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261007103132