Updating the Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern among Critical Priority Pathogens in the Intensive Care Unit in...

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased antibiotic use and the rise of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains.
• Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to healthcare, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in MDR Gram-negative isolates from ICUs in northern Iran post-COVID-19.
• To identify specific resistance genes and their frequencies in key bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Samples were collected from patients with healthcare-associated infections in ICUs.
• Antimicrobial resistance was determined using broth macrodilution and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for gene identification.

Main Results:

• MDR Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest infection frequency (32.1%) in the ICU, while E. coli had the lowest (12.6%).
• High resistance rates were observed for bla (100%), ampC (99.12%), apA6 (90.35%), and blaNDM (69.30%) in A. baumannii.
• Co-amoxiclav exhibited 100% resistance, whereas Piperacillin-tazobactam showed the lowest resistance rate (38.2%).

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of MDR Acinetobacter baumannii was identified in ICU patients with healthcare-associated infections in northern Iran post-COVID-19.
• Piperacillin-tazobactam and Meropenem are recommended as potential treatments.