Prevalence and Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance among Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. in a Veterinary University Hospital

The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in commensal strains of and spp. was investigated in 320 samples collected from patients and the environment of a veterinary university hospital-specifically, the consultation area (CA) and intensive care unit (ICU). was isolated in 70/160 samples (44%), while spp. were isolated in 110/160 (69%) samples. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates from CA and ICU admission were similar for (1/12 (8%) versus 4/27 (15%), respectively) and spp. (10/19 (53%) versus 26/50 (52%), respectively). MDR isolates increased significantly at hospital discharge (18/31; 58%; = 0.008). Antimicrobial treatment administered during hospitalization was a risk factor for carriage of MDR (OR, 23.9; 95% CI: 1.18-484.19; = 0.04) and MDR spp. (OR, 19.5; 95% CI 1.30-292.76; = 0.02), respectively. The odds ratio for MDR was 41.4 (95% CI 2.13-806.03; = 0.01), if the administration of fluoroquinolones was evaluated. The gene was detected in 19/24 (79%) coagulase-positive spp. isolates resistant to oxacillin. High rates of MDR spp. were reported. Hospitalization in the ICU and antimicrobial treatment were risk factors for colonization by MDR commensal bacteria.