Current Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Okayama from a National Database between 2018 and 2021

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat.
• A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for effective AMR management.
• Understanding regional AMR pathogen prevalence is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and raise awareness of high-level AMR pathogen prevalence in Japan.
• To compare AMR pathogen isolation proportions across prefectures, with a focus on Okayama.
• To identify specific AMR pathogens with notable prevalence in Okayama.

Main Methods:

• Data on seven key AMR pathogens were collected from the Japan Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (2018-2021).
• Pathogens included meropenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• Isolation proportions were compared between Okayama and other Japanese prefectures.

Main Results:

• Okayama exhibited higher average isolation proportions for all seven studied AMR pathogens compared to national averages.
• Meropenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (19.9%) and levofloxacin-resistant E. coli (49.9%) showed particularly high prevalence in Okayama.
• Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (57.2%), cefotaxime-resistant E. coli (37.8%), and levofloxacin-resistant K. pneumoniae (8.7%) also demonstrated significant prevalence in Okayama.

Conclusions:

• Okayama demonstrates notably high prevalences of key antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
• There is a critical need for enhanced infection prevention and control measures in Okayama.
• Promoting antimicrobial stewardship and educating healthcare professionals are essential to combat AMR in the region.