Increase of antimicrobial resistance in bacteremias. Report of a reference center

Sepsis is a life-threatening organic dysfunction caused by an unregulated host response to infection. Management includes a prompt antibiotic treatment. Incorrect treatment can negatively influence in survival.

To describe the pattern of antimicrobial resistance of the main isolated microorganisms in blood cultures of patients with sepsis in a reference center of Mexico City.

Observational, retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data from blood cultures performed in patients diagnosed with sepsis were analyzed during the period from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018.

450 positive blood cultures were identified. Escherichia coli (34.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.4%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria. E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed resistance to third generation cephalosporins of 75 and 80%, respectively. For K. pneumoniae it was reported resistance to carbapenems in 12.7%. For Enterococcus faecium it was reported a resistance to vancomycin in 60%. Multidrug resistance within the group of non-fermenting bacteria was reported in 88.1% for Acinetobacter baumannii and 48.8% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The resistance to methicillin in S. aureus was 23.6%.

A high proportion of beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae was observed, as well as a higher proportion of multidrug-resistant non-fermenting bacteria.