Multiresistant Bacterial Pathogens Causing Bacterial Pneumonia and Analyses of Potential Risk Factors from Northeast Ethiopia

Background. Pneumonia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, mostly caused by different species of bacterial pathogens. Hence, patient management needs awareness of the pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). This study was aimed to assess the type of bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among pneumonia suspected patients at Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia. Potential risk factors were also assessed to apply preventive measures accordingly. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study design was employed among pneumonia suspected patients from February to April 2020 at Dessie Referral Hospital. Sociodemographic characteristics and associated risk factors were collected using a pretested questionnaire, and clinical data were extracted by reviewing medical records. Sputum specimens were collected and inoculated into chocolate agar, blood agar, mannitol salt agar, and MacConkey agar which are then incubated at 35°C or 37°C for 24–48 hours. Bacterial species were identified based on Gram stain, colony characteristics, and biochemical techniques. The data were entered in to Epi-Info version 7.1.5 and analyzed with SPSS software version 20. p value