Fermenters in Human Infections with Special Reference to Acinetobacter Species in A Tertiary Care Hospital from North Karnataka

Background: Non-fermenters are a group of aerobic non-spore forming gram negative bacilli that are either incapable of utilizing carbohydrates as a source of energy or degrade them via oxidative rather than fermentative pathway. These are increasingly been reported from the cases of nosocomial infections. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken aiming to identify, characterize all non- fermenters and further study of Acinetobacter isolates. Materials and Methods: A total 116 non-fermenters isolated from various specimens obtained from the patients in tertiary care hospital. Gram negative bacilli which failed to produce acid on Triple Sugar Iron Agar (TSI) were identified by employing battery of tests. The Acinetobacter isolates were further speciated and antimicrobial susceptibility testing done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique. Results: Non-fermenters isolated were Pseudomonas aerugionsa (69.8%), Acinetobacter species (18.9%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (4.3%), Burkholderia cepacia (3.4%), Alcaligenes fecalis (1.7%) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1.7%). Most of the isolates showed susceptibility to imipenem (86.3%) whereas none of the isolates were sensitive to cephalexin and co-trimoxazole. Conclusion: This study highlights that, after Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species is the most common non-fermenter. Majority of the isolates of Acinetobacter Species were of nosocomial origin and were multidrug resistant, which underlines the importance of proper vigilance of these infections in hospital setting