Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from patients of respiratory tract infection in a tertiary care hospital of Central India

Respiratory tract infections are one of the commonest types of infections affecting the Indian population with prevalence rates ranging around 52%. Respiratory infections, particularly those affecting the lower respiratory tract, are significant causes of morbidity and mortality. The majority of antibiotics prescribed in general practice are for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The incidence, etiology and prognosis vary depending on age, concurrent illness and predisposing risk factors as well as on whether such infections are community or hospital acquired. To add to the trouble, statistical data and evidences from researches prove that multidrug resistance bacteria are rapidly emerging across the world and pose a big challenge to health care. Multidrug resistant bacteria cause serious nosocomial and community acquired infections that are hard to eradicate using available antibiotics. Extensive and non-specific use of broad spectrum antibiotics in hospitalized patients has led to both increased carriage and the development of multidrug resistant strains that produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL).