💡 The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular characteristics of Gram-negative ESKAPE bacteria, particularly 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 multidrug-resistant strains, in a Mexican tertiary care hospital during the second and third years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
📍 The study involved the collection of 200 unique ESKAPE bacteria strains, with their antimicrobial susceptibility assessed as per CLSI guidelines. Statistical analysis was applied to discern shifts in resistance profiles, while molecular methods, such as sequence typing and PCR, identified resistance genes, carbapenemase activity, and efflux pump mechanisms.
1. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing revealed varying resistance levels among the ESKAPE bacteria strains to various antibiotics.
2. Significant changes in resistance profiles were identified using ANOVA and Tukey’s test, particularly for 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 .
3. Molecular techniques detected high-risk sequence types of 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 and confirmed carbapenemase production with specific resistance genes prevalent.
4. The presence of efflux pump genes, contributing to drug resistance, was found in all carbapenem-resistant 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 isolates.
5. Multidrug-resistant strains were commonly found, with over 50% of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains and 92.3% of 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 strains being classified as MDR.
This research is beneficial for advancing the management of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in the context of hospital infections exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying high-risk sequence types and resistance patterns of key ESKAPE pathogens, such as 𝘈𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘪 , healthcare providers can improve infection control practices, refine empirical antibiotic therapy, and enhance patient outcomes.
The insights gained can inform antimicrobial stewardship programs, guiding the judicious use of antibiotics to mitigate the spread of multidrug resistance. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and global collaboration in public health strategies aimed at controlling and preventing the dissemination of resistant bacterial strains within and across healthcare facilities.
