Antibiogram Development for an Outpatient Dialysis Center

Abstract

Infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients. Despite recommendations to the contrary, vancomycin is often used empirically. Antibiograms may aid in the choice of empiric antibiotic therapy. We developed an antibiogram and determined the susceptibility of various microorganisms to cefazolin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. Retrospective review of culture results and susceptibility data from a 21-month time period were used to determine microorganism frequency of identification and antimicrobial sensitivity. A total of 362 microorganisms were identified and 285 cultures performed in 171 patients (144 hemodialysis; 27 peritoneal dialysis). Predominant organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (39.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.6%). Gram-positive organisms accounted for 73.5% of isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus were identified 3.8% and 2.3% of time, respectively. Gram-positive and negative microorganisms were frequently susceptible to cefazolin and gentamicin. Antibiogram interpretation indicates that cefazolin alone or in combination with gentamicin may be appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy in our outpatient dialysis center.