IDENTIFICATION OF NON FERMENTING GRAM NEGATIVE BACILLI FROM PATEINS IN AL-DIWANIYA CITY AND DETECTION OF THEIR VIRULENCE FACTORS.

Non fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) have emerged as multidrug resistant pathogens associated with life threating nosocomial infections. To assess the frequency of these pathogens, (873) different clinical specimens were collected from patients admitted to Al- Diwaniya teaching hospital during a period extended from January to December 2015. Bacterial isolates recovered from the collected sampled have identified based on biochemical tests and confirmed using Vitek2 Compact system. The predominant isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60%) followed by Burkholdaria cepacia (26%), Acintobacter spp.(6%). Pseudomonas putida , Pseudomonas leutella, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Achromobacter spp. (2%). The highest number of the NFGNB was obtained from ear swabs (36%) followed by sputum (24%), vaginal swabs and urine (12%), throat swabs (10%), and blood (6%). The NFGNB were isolated from both males and females and most of them detected in the age group 15-30 years followed by the age group 47-62 year then 31-46 year. Virulence factors, including colonization factors antigens I and III, proteases, siderophores, and capsule have identified in the isolated NFGNB. Results also showed that isolates of the predominant species, P. aeruginosa, were resistant to multiple antibiotics including, Ampicillin (93.98%), Ceftriaxone (82.13%), Chloramphenicol (72.09%), Piperacillin (64.31%), Ciprofloxacin (46.97%), Gentamycin (32.4%), Tetracycline (30.75%), Levofloxacin (15.17%), Amikacin (12.12%), Trimethoprim?Sulfamethoxazole (10.67%). P. aeruginosa isolates showed low resistance to Colistin (2.34%) and Imipenem (6.89%). The outcome of this study may be helpful to understand the epidemiology of these organisms, which is crucial for appropriate management of infections caused by NFGNB.