๐ก The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular characteristics of Gram-negative ESKAPE bacteria, particularly ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช multidrug-resistant strains, in a Mexican tertiary care hospital during the second and third years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
๐ 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 ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช .
3. Molecular techniques detected high-risk sequence types of ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช 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 ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช isolates.
5. Multidrug-resistant strains were commonly found, with over 50% of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains and 92.3% of ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช 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 ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ช , 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.ย
