Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) Producing Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) Urinary Pathogens in a Children Hospital...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Multidrug resistance in bacterial pathogens poses a significant global health threat, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenses.
• Understanding local antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial for effective clinical practice and antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacterial isolates from pediatric patients.
• To determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant strains, specifically those producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), in a Nepalese children's hospital.

Main Methods:

• Standard microbiological techniques were used to culture and identify bacterial isolates from urine samples.
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.
• Extended spectrum beta-lactamase production was detected using the combined disc method.

Main Results:

• Out of 65 identified bacterial isolates, Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most prevalent (71%).
• Sixty-three percent of E. coli isolates exhibited multidrug resistance.
• High resistance rates were observed in Gram-negative isolates against nalidixic acid (81.97%), ampicillin (69.35%), and co-trimoxazole (69.35%).
• Extended spectrum beta-lactamase production was identified in 43% of the total isolates.

Conclusions:

• The high rate of extended spectrum beta-lactamase production among multidrug resistant isolates warrants routine ESBL testing in clinical settings.
• These findings underscore the urgent need for surveillance and intervention strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance in pediatric populations.