DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2017.6.2.4

Pages: 62-66

This study aimed to determine the frequency and Antibiotic resistant of bacteria causing bacteremia in blood specimens in Kirkuk, Iraq .A total of 309 blood samples were collected from infants and adults who were suffering from symptoms of bacteremia. There ages were ranged from (1 month - 80 years). Those patients were attended to Kirkuk General Hospital, Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk city from (1/July/2013) to (1/October/2014). The results indicated that 47 (31%) blood samples from both sexes, 21(12.7%) female and 26(18.2%) male, revealed positive cultures, consisting of 28 (59.6%) gram-positive isolates and 19 (40.4 %) gram-negative isolates. Gram-positive isolates were represented by: Staphylococcus aureus 18 (38.3%) and it was the predominant isolate followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis 10 (21.3%) and gram negative isolates were represented by: Escherichia coli 12 (25.5%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5(10.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae 2(4.2%). The results also showed that the high age groups infected were (1- 10 years) 9 (19.1%). Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to ciprofloxacin followed by Chloramphenicol, also the gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to ciprofloxacin followed by Chloramphenicol. From gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is predominant cause of bacteremia while from gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli is predominant.