Dados do Trabalho

Título

Analysis of the Infection Profile and Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli isolates in a Public Hospital in Mossoró/RN, 2017-2022

Introdução

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in the normal microbiota of the human body. However, certain strains can act as opportunistic pathogens, causing infections such as urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, and sepsis, posing a risk to hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. In recent decades, there has been an increase in antibiotic resistance within hospital settings.

Objetivo (s)

This study aimed to evaluate the profile of infections and antibiotic resistance of E. coli isolates from clinical samples of patients hospitalized in a public hospital in Mossoró, RN.This study aimed to evaluate the profile of infections and antibiotic resistance of E. coli isolates from clinical samples of patients hospitalized in a public hospital in Mossoró, RN.

Material e Métodos

This observational, quantitative, longitudinal, and retrospective study was conducted at the Tarcísio Maia Regional Hospital (ethics committee approval number 4.708.190). Data were collected from microbiology laboratory records and/or the hospital infection control committee for cultures positive for E. coli from 2017 to 2022, including the type of clinical sample, date of collection, patient ward, and antimicrobial resistance profile (considering only antibiotics tested in more than 50% of E. coli cultures).

Resultados e Conclusão

A total of 372 isolates were identified during the study period, with the majority originating from the medical clinic ward (28%). Most isolates were cultured from urine (63%) and were resistant to ampicillin (85%), cephalothin (70%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (58%). The isolates were most susceptible to meropenem (91%), amikacin (86%), and gentamicin (72%). Between 2018 and 2021, an increase in resistance to all antimicrobials was observed, whereas from 2021 to 2022, there was an increase or stabilization in resistance to some antibiotics, notably a decrease in resistance to cephalothin from 46.15% to 16.67%. There were fluctuations in the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli isolates during the study period, including an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, discrepancies among different hospital areas were observed, which may indicate location-specific risk factors.

Palavras Chave

Antibiotic resistance; Hospital infection; Antibiogram