Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(5): 1057-1066 1057 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.605.115 An Evaluation of Antibiotic Profile, Molecular Characterization and Risk Factors Associated with Carbapenem Resistant Non Fermentative Gram Negative Isolates in a Tertiary Care Centre N. Grover 1 , N.K. Das 2* , M. Kumar 3 , R. Sriram 1 , V.L. Dudhat 4 , S. Prasanna 5 and P. Pandit 6 1 Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2 Department of Microbiology, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pimpri, Pune-411018, India 3 Department of Lab Sciences & Molecular Medicine, Army Hospital R & R, Delhi, India 4 Department of Microbiology, Microbiology and HIC Sahyadri Speciality labs, Pune, India 5 Department of Microbiology, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Ammapettai, Kancheepuram- 608103, India 6 Gd Spl (Microbiology) Command Hospital, Kolkata, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Among the non-fermentative Gram negative bacilli (NFGNB), Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered a major pathogen; however in recent years other non-fermenters have also caused serious infections that place hospitalised patients at serious risk largely because of high intrinsic antibiotic resistance in these bacteria (Hancock, 1998; Su et al., 2009). Non-fermenters are generally multi- drug resistant, with an increase in resistance to oxyimino-cephalosporins and carbapenems in the last two decades. Resistance not only compromises treatment but also leads to increased mortality, and inflated cost in hospitals (McGowan, 2006; Slama, 2008). Carbapenems are stable to most β-lactamases including AmpC β-lactamases and extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). Hence carbapenems are used as antibiotics of last International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 5 (2017) pp. 1057-1066 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Non-fermentative Gram negative bacteria (NFGNB) can cause serious infections in hospitalised patients. There has been an increase in resistance to carbapenems which is worrying as they are considered as antibiotics of last resort. Carbapenemases are responsible for carbapenem resistance. Study was undertaken to evaluate antibiotic profile, to ascertain risk factors associated and to detect genes responsible for carbapenem resistance in NFGNB isolates from acute wards of a tertiary care centre. The study was carried out in an urban tertiary care centre. Samples were collected from patients of acute wards and relevant clinical history was collected. Imipenem resistance detection and antibiotic susceptibility was done. A multiplex PCR was done on imipenem resistant isolates for detection of resistant genes. A total of 296 isolates were collected. Acinetobacter baumannii (132) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (121) were the predominant isolates. OXA-51(72) and NDM were the predominant genes detected in Imipenem resistant A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (39). The carbapenem resistance in NFGNB in our hospital setting is mostly because of VIM, NDM, OXA-23, OXA-51. Constant monitoring of the incidence of such organisms in critical areas of the hospital, prompt recognition and getting rid of them is the only important preventive strategy. Keywords Antibiotic profile, Molecular characterisation, Carbapenem resistant non fermentative Gram negative bacteria . Accepted: 12 April 2017 Available Online: 10 May 2017 Article Info