Six-Year Retrospective Analysis of Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Resistance in Endotracheal Tube Cultures at an ICU in Tabriz, Iran
Novelty in Biomedicine,
Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026),
13 October 2026
,
Page 173-180
https://doi.org/10.22037/nbm.v14i4.51854
Abstract
Background: Infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) account for a significant portion of hospital infections and are thought to be frequent and important contributors to patient mortality and length of stay. Respiratory and blood infections account for the majority of infections in this section. In this study, endotracheal tube samples from intubated patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Imam Sajjad Hospital in Tabriz over 6 years will be examined for the types of bacteria present and their antibiotic resistance.
Materials and Methods: The results of 309 endotracheal tube culture samples from the intensive care unit of Imam Sajjad Hospital in Tabriz were assessed in this descriptive-retrospective study between October 2019 and June 2025.
Results: Out of the 309 samples that were examined, 163 were male (52.7%), and 146 were female (47.3%). Ninety-four (52.2%) of the 180 positive tracheal culture samples were female. Klebsiella (45.5%) and Acinetobacter (18.9%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria from the tracheal tube. Cefixime was associated with the highest level of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella species, whereas Acinetobacter species were resistant to all antibiotics.
Conclusion: Bacterial contamination of the endotracheal tube was found in approximately 58.2% of patients. Timely endotracheal tube replacement and adherence to sterile conditions during intubation are advised because bacteria isolated from these tubes can cause nosocomial pneumonia and antibiotic resistance in patients.
- Endotracheal tube culture
- Antibiotic resistance pattern
- Antibiotic sensitivity pattern
- Intensive care unit
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References
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