Background and Objective: Non fermenting Gram Negative bacilli (NFGNB) are saprophytic in nature and have emerged as important healthcare associated pathogens. NFGNB group which are known to cause infections are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia complex and Stenotrophomonas maltophila. This study was undertaken to identify the various non fermenters isolated from patients admitted to our hospital, to assess their clinical significance and type of healthcare associated infections they caused and to know their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern. Methodology: A total of 200 non fermenter isolates from various clinical specimens received in department of Microbiology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G. Nagara formed the study group. Samples were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey agar, chocolate agar and incubated at 37°C for 18-24 hours. The clinical isolates were identified using the conventional methods and susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines. Results: 200 NFGNB were isolated from various clinical specimens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common isolate accounting for 140 (70%) followed by Acinetobacter baumanii 32 (16%) and other nonfermenters 28 (14%). P.aeruginosa showed sensitivity to imipenem (94.2%), ceftazidime (70.7%), amikacin (69.2%), tobramycin and ticarcillin (62.8%). A.baumannii showed 100% sensitivity to imipenem and 53.1% sensitivity to amikacin and gentamicin. Conclusion: P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii were the common NFGNB isolated in our study from patients of urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, bacteremia and ventilator associated pneumonia. Thus NFGNB are emerging as important opportunistic pathogens and are resistant to commonly used antimicrobials. Therefore early diagnosis and institution of empirical therapy based on antibiotic sensitivity data of the institute would decrease mortality and improve patient management. 

Keywords: Non Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli (NFGNB); Pseudomonas; Acinetobacter.