Antibiotic Resistance Trends in Hospital Settings: A 5-Year Cross-Sectional Analysis from Clinical Isolates
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance, Hospital-acquired infection, MRSA, Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella, Multidrug-resistant organisms, Antibiotic stewardshipAbstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospital infections is a mounting global crisis, driven by extensive antibiotic use and pathogen adaptation. We report a 5-year cross-sectional study (2019-2023) analyzing clinical isolates from a tertiary hospital laboratory. Specimens (blood, sputum, urine, etc.) yielded ~7,000 isolates per year. Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii) comprised ~60% of isolates, with MRSA and Enterococcus spp. prevalent among Gram-positives. Over five years, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) rose steadily: CRE detection rates jumped from ~7% to 14%. Notably, K. pneumoniae showed significant carbapenem and cephalosporin resistance, while MRSA rates plateaued or fell. Resistance to last-resort antibiotics (e.g., carbapenems) became common, especially in ICU isolates. Our findings mirror global data: AMR infections cause ~1.27 million deaths/year and rose during COVID-19. These trends highlight urgent needs for antibiotic stewardship, infection control, and novel therapies.
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