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Updated: Jul 20, 2025
Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants
Published on: May 4, 2018
Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a 2019-2020 single center retrospective case control study
Ann Fan Yang1, Vivian Huang2, Jevon Samaroo-Campbell3
1Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Abstract:
Multi-drug resistance in the post COVID-19 world is a growing concern. The objective of this study was to describe temporal trends and explore independent risk factors for the isolation of multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa.
Methods:
This was a retrospective case-control study of patients with P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from January 2019 to December 2020. MDR P. aeruginosa was defined as non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more anti-pseudomonal antimicrobial categories.
Results:
In total, 258 unique isolates were identified. Prolonged hospitalization (P<0.001), prior antibiotic use (P<0.001), and respiratory sources (P<0.001) were strongly associated with the presence of MDR P. aeruginosa. From 2019 to 2020, there was a decrease in the total number of P. aeruginosa isolates but a significant increase in the proportion of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates (P=0.015).
Conclusions:
Over a period that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased proportion of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates from hospitalized patients. Improved identification of patients at risk for MDR P. aeruginosa could facilitate appropriate empiric antibiotic decisions like dual anti-pseudomonal therapy. The features of the COVID-19 outbreak that had a severe impact on patient care and that may have affected drug resistance in other respiratory pathogens should be explored.
Insights
Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a growing concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found prolonged hospitalization and prior antibiotic use increase risk for MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- The rise of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in bacterial pathogens presents a significant global health challenge.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with healthcare-associated infections and notorious for its resistance capabilities.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially exacerbated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concerns due to altered healthcare practices and antibiotic usage patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal trends of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.
- To identify independent risk factors associated with the isolation of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- To understand the impact of the post-COVID-19 era on MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa prevalence.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study design was employed.
- Data were collected from P. aeruginosa isolates recovered between January 2019 and December 2020.
- MDR P. aeruginosa was defined by non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more anti-pseudomonal antimicrobial categories.
Main Results:
- A total of 258 unique P. aeruginosa isolates were analyzed.
- Prolonged hospitalization, previous antibiotic exposure, and respiratory sources were significantly associated with MDR P. aeruginosa (P<0.001).
- Despite a decrease in total P. aeruginosa isolates from 2019 to 2020, a significant increase in the proportion of MDR isolates was observed (P=0.015).
Conclusions:
- The proportion of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period, particularly in hospitalized patients.
- Identifying patients at risk for MDR P. aeruginosa is crucial for guiding appropriate empiric antibiotic strategies, such as dual anti-pseudomonal therapy.
- Further research is warranted to explore the specific impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient care and drug resistance patterns in respiratory pathogens.
