The antibiogram of pus cultures in federal tertiary care hospital, Islamabad and its utility in antimicrobial stewardship.

Background and Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a significant global health threat. Infections caused by Multi Drug-Resistant (MDR) bacteria pose formidable challenges in terms of treatment options and patient outcomes. Pus cultures serve as crucial diagnostic tools in identifying the agents responsible for various infections, and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns which help in establishment of empirical therapy guidelines. This study was conducted to determine the pathogen and its susceptibility pattern from pus cultures and to generate antibiogram in our tertiary care setting. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, conducted for a period of six months, from July 2022 to December 2022, in the Pathology Department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Results: Out of total 2507 samples received, 1242 (49.5%) showed positive culture. Among the 1242 positive samples, 364 were Gram positive cocci (GPCs) and 878 were Gram negative rods (GNRs). Methicillin resistant Conclusion: The generation of a local antibiogram specific to the hospital setting is essential to effectively manage infections empirically and preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics. By implementing antimicrobial stewardship practices based on a better understanding of antibiotic susceptibility patterns, we can contribute to the mitigation of antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes.