Abstract

Background: Emergence of resistance to some antibiotics in Haemophilus influenzae, a respiratory pathogen is a cause of concern. The aim is to study the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Haemophilus isolates from respiratory infections with reference to beta-lactam resistance.

Methods: This is a laboratory based prospective study done in the department of microbiology in a tertiary care center after institutional ethics committee clearance. Haemophilus influenzae isolates from respiratory tract specimens over a period of one year were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests. Beta-lactamase production was detected by nitrocefin disc. hpd gene, blaTEM and blaROB genes were detected by PCR. The data was analysed using SPSS 11.5 version.

Results: Of the 162 isolates, 89.5% were from sputum specimens. Ampicillin resistance was seen in 5 (3.09%) isolates. The ampicillin resistant strains were positive for beta-lactamase enzyme and blaTEM gene. BLNAR and isolates with blaROB gene were not found.

Conclusion: In case of Haemophilus influenzae respiratory tract infection empirical treatment with amoxicillin clavulanate or third generation cephalosporin may be the drugs of choice in our geographic area.

Keywords: Haemophilus, ROB, TEM, respiratory pathogen, sputum specimens, Haemophilus influenzae.