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Published on: March 3, 2023

Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents in Latin America. The giant is awakening

M Guzmán-Blanco1, J M Casellas, H S Sader

  • 1Infectious Disease and Microbiology Unit, Hospital Vargas de Caracas, Venezuela.

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|March 30, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat in Latin America, complicating infections. Enhanced surveillance is crucial for healthcare providers to combat rising bacterial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to treating community- and hospital-acquired infections in Latin America.
  • Existing surveillance data may not be effectively reaching healthcare professionals, hindering timely interventions.
  • Specific challenges include penicillin-resistant meningococci and pneumococci, and ineffective oral antibiotics for urinary tract infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance in Latin America.
  • To underscore the need for improved information dissemination to healthcare providers.
  • To call for the establishment of an accessible antibiotic resistance surveillance network.

Main Methods:

  • Review of surveillance data and clinical reports on bacterial resistance patterns in Latin America.
  • Analysis of resistance trends for key pathogens like Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococci.
  • Identification of specific antibiotic resistance challenges in community- and hospital-acquired infections.

Main Results:

  • Increased resistance to penicillin in meningococci and pneumococci.
  • Diminished efficacy of common oral antibiotics for community-acquired urinary tract infections.
  • Rising prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in ICUs.
  • Emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a critical and growing public health concern in Latin America.
  • There is an urgent need for a readily accessible surveillance network for antibiotic prescribing healthcare professionals in the region.
  • Effective strategies are required to combat the spread of resistant bacteria and ensure favorable infection outcomes.

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