Microbial Contamination of Endotracheal Tube of Patients in ICU of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Benghazi , Libya

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are one of the most important worldwide health including mechanical ventilation in ICU, which is considerable a life-saving procedure, but it is associated with a high risk of acquiring respiratory infections. Hence to prevent it and initiate empirical antimicrobial therapy, knowledge of microbial profile and their local antimicrobial sensitivity pattern are essential. A prospective analytical study of Endotracheal tube (ETT) aspirates of mechanically ventilated patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Al-Jalaa Hospital for Surgery and Accidents -Benghazi - Libya, was done over a period of six months (December 2022- May 2023). Endotracheal tube aspirates of patients who had been intubated for ≥48hrs were processed by standard methods with the aim to identify the microbiological profile of ETT aspirates and their antibiogram. Out of the 52 samples, 76.92% were culture positive. Gram negative enteric aerobic bacteria were isolated from most of the patients, most common being Klebsiella species (30%), followed by Acinetobacter (20%) and Pseudomonas (15%). Most of the Gram negative isolates were sensitive to Meropenem, Tigecycline, and Polymixin B but resistant to Penicillin derivatives and Cephalosporins. Gram positive cocci were mostly sensitive to Penicillin derivatives, Vancomycin and Clindamycin. Gram negative organisms are predominant isolates of ETT in our ICU. Hence empirical therapy, based on bacteriological profile and susceptibilities is essential to prevent poor outcomes in incubated patients.