Title:Isolation of Morganella Morganii and Providencia Species from Clinical Samples in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Author(s): Shiwani Sharma, Prapti Bora, Nidhi Singla*, Varsha Gupta and Jagdish Chander
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh,India
Keywords:
Morganella, North India, Providencia, incidence, pathogens, resistance.
Abstract:
Introduction: The members of the tribe Proteeae, Morganella and Providencia are being
increasingly recognized as important pathogens. The spectrum of disease caused by them is wide
and in reported cases, the mortality is high. Previously both of these pathogens were considered to
be rare pathogens as the potential to cause nosocomial transmission and infection was not much
studied. But their phenomenal evolution and increase in multidrug-resistance (MDR) strains of
these pathogens are posing a major threat toward public health throughout the world.
Methods: This present study was carried out from July 2018 to December 2018 on all the pus and
body fluid samples that were received in the Department of Microbiology. Samples were processed
as per the standard Microbiological guidelines and also were analyzed for their antimicrobial susceptibility
profile as per Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute.
Results: Out of 8425 samples received, 2140 were culture positive, amongst which 19 samples
(0.89%) were positive for Providencia species (9) and Morganella morganii(10). The male : female
ratio of these 19 patients was 2.8 : 1 and maximum patients (13) belonged to 20-60 years. As far as
risk factors are concerned, maximum patients were diabetics (7) followed by abnormal liver function
tests (6), concomitant UTI (6), history of invasive procedure (5), prior exposure to antibiotics
(5) and urinary catheterization (4). About 6 were polymicrobial infections. Antibiotic susceptibility
patterns revealed that Providencia strains were sensitive to ampicillin- sulbactum (77.7%) and amikacin
(77.7%), while all Morganella strains were 100% sensitive to tobramycin and piperacillintazobactam.
Conclusion: This study heralds in need for more research in this area as infections caused by these
two pathogens are on the rise. Moreover, resistance to antimicrobials is also an increasingly common
problem thus delaying the treatment and prognosis of the disease.
