A systematic review and meta-analysis: rising prevalence of colistin resistance in ICU-acquired Gram-negative

Na Li1, Elaheh Ebrahimi2, Mohammad Sholeh3

  • 1Zhejiang Provincial Headquarters Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China.

Insights

Colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is a growing public health concern. This study found an overall resistance rate of 5.18%, highlighting the need for robust antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Colistin is a critical last-resort antibiotic for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
  • Rising colistin resistance poses a significant threat to public health, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the global prevalence and trends of colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria from ICU infections.
  • To analyze resistance rates across different geographical regions, time periods, pathogens, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of studies published until November 2021 in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science.
  • Meta-analysis of colistin resistance proportions using STATA software (ver. 14.0).

Main Results:

  • The overall colistin resistance rate was 5.18%. Resistance increased from 4% before 2015 to 6% between 2015-2019.
  • Geographical variations were observed: Europe (8.24%), America (3.78%), Asia (3.60%), and Africa (0%).
  • Colistin resistance was 2.25% in non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (Acinetobacter baumannii: 1.68%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa: 3.30%). A 4-fold difference in resistance was noted between EUCAST and CLSI AST methods.

Conclusions:

  • Global colistin resistance is increasing, with significant geographical disparities.
  • Effective antimicrobial stewardship programs are essential for improving patient outcomes in ICUs facing colistin resistance challenges.