Volume :
3
Issue :
1
Abstract :
Bacterial meningitis remains a common disease worldwide. Information on the relative frequency of the isolation and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these pathogens is of paramount importance in combating antimicrobial resistance and for successful management of meningitis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the common bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial resistance pattern. Data about 1754 CSF samples delivered for culture from September 2009 to March 2011 was retrospectively collected from microbiology registration book of university of Gondar Hospital laboratory. Bacteria were isolated from 75 patients which makes the isolation rate 4.3%; 3.7% among males and 5.1 % among females. The common bacterial isolates were S.pneumoniae (32.8%) followed by N.meningitdis (30.2%) and E.coli (10.5%). S. pneumoniae showed a high level of drug resistance against cotrimoxazole (81.8%), gentamycin (69.6%) and tetracycline (60%). The single isolate of Veridian streptococci was 100% resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamycin and co-trimoxazol. N. meningitides was 95.3% and 57% resistant to cotrimoxazole, and gentamycin respectively while they were sensitive to penicillin (100%) and ceftriaxone (90.9%). E. coli showed 100% resistance to cotrimoxzole, tetracycline, ampicllin and naldixic acid but the isolates were 100% sensitive to ceftriaxone. This study concluded that the common bacterial pathogens responsible for meningitis in the study area are still similar to previous reports though there are differences in rate of isolation. These Several bacteria have developed antimicrobial resistance to conventional antibiotic regimes. Large scale studies and continuous assessment of antimicrobial resistance common bacterial isolates should be done so to limit the increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance.