Blood stream infections range from self-limiting illnesses to life threatening sepsis that require prompt and aggressive antimicrobial treatment. The present study was undertaken to provide a base-line knowledge of the micro-organisms prevailing to a particular area and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern so as to prevent the injudicious usage of antibiotics. Objectives: To describe the profile and determine the antibiogram of bacteriological isolates causing blood stream infections. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was done on the blood samples received for culture over a period of one year (January-December 2017). The bacterial isolates from positive cultures were identified by standard protocols and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns determined by CLSI guidelines. Results: 389 (10.1%) samples were positive for culture, out of which 376 yielded bacterial isolates. 53.3% were Gram positive and 47.7 % were Gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant organism-127 (32.8%). All the Gram positive isolates were uniformly sensitive to vancomycin. Total Multi drug resistant isolates observed in our study were 75.65%. Conclusion: The present study provides valuable information to clinicians in initiating empirical antibiotic therapy and necessitates rational antibiotic usage in the hospital to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
