Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance of ESKAPE Pathogens Over Five Years in an Infectious Diseases Hospital from South-East of Romania

• Published in: Infection and drug resistance 2021-01, Vol.14, p.2369-2378
• Main Authors: Arbune, Manuela, Gurau, Gabriela, Niculet, Elena, Iancu, Alina Viorica, Lupasteanu, Gabriela, Fotea, Silvia, Vasile, Mihaela Camelia, Tatu, Alin Laurentiu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter baumannii; Analysis; Annual reports; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacilli; Bacteria; Bacterial pneumonia; Beta lactamases; Biological products; Blood; Catheters; Communicable diseases; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Diagnosis; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Drug resistance in microorganisms; Enterococcus faecium; Escherichia coli; Evolution; Gram-negative bacilli; Gram-positive cocci; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Infectious diseases; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Laboratories; Medical examination; Methicillin; Multidrug resistance; Original Research; Pandemics; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Patients; Pneumonia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Secretions; Skin; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus infections; Strains (organisms); Surveillance; Tetracycline; Tetracyclines; Urine; Vancomycin; β Lactamase
• ISSN: 1178-6973; 1178-6973
• DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S312231

This study aimed at identifying the main antimicrobial resistance of ESKAPE ( ) pathogens in a Romanian infectious diseases hospital. This antimicrobial resistance is a global threat, having high rates of multidrug resistance and limited treatment options. This retrospective study (2016-2020) assessed the antimicrobial resistance of ESKAPE pathogens isolated from the patient's biological samples. The microbiological diagnosis was performed by classical culture methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility analysis used the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method and the method of minimum inhibiting concentration with the automated Vitek, according to the CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) standards. Included in this study were 4293 bacterial isolates: 67% Gram-negative bacilli, 31% Gram-positive cocci and 2% other morphotinctorial bacteria. ESKAPE pathogens were found in 97% of the bacterial isolates strains; (38.26%) and (26%) were the most prevalent. Most bacterial strains were isolated from urine cultures (45.6%), skin and soft tissue secretions/collections (35.9%) and also blood cultures (4.2%). Increased antimicrobial resistance was observed for methicillin-resistant (MRSA)s, extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing (ESBL) Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant (CR) . No vancomycin resistance was found for . The highest prevalence rates of multidrug resistance were found in methicillin-resistant (86.6%), (36.8%), (29.1%) and (24.4%). ESKAPE pathogens are frequently isolated in the infectious diseases hospital, with main antimicrobial resistance: ESBL, MRSA and CR. The local antimicrobial resistance pattern is essential in updating the local protocols and for appropriately prescribing antibiotics. Streamlining microbiological diagnosis and aligning with the European standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing are necessary steps in harmonizing the regional network for good antimicrobial resistance control practices.