Analysis of antimicrobial resistance pattern in a secondary care hospital

Antimicrobial Resistance; Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase Producers; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial resistance is a grave global public health concern and has escalated in recent past. [2] Several factors such as point mutation, transfer of resistant gene between bacteria through plasmids, transposons, and integrins have been postulated for the development of resistance.® Inappropriate antibiotic usage, unhygienic practices, demographic changes, and overcrowding are some of the reasons, which have been implicated in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.® Antibiotics are the mainstay for many lifesaving interventions in the hospital, which depend on appropriate antimicrobial therapy for success.® Unfortunately, the dependence on antimicrobials has exponentially increased the emergence of resistance as well. [8] The multidrugresistant (MDR) bacteria are spreading rapidly, resulting in severe financial and medical consequences globally.® Every 10 min, a person succumbs to death in the United States or Europe due to untreatable resistant bacteria.® Increasing prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus has been reported in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with many outbreaks, and mortality that ranges between 11% and 40%. [20] In our study, Gram-negative bacteria demonstrated significant resistance to antimicrobial groups such as quinolones, cotrimoxazole, aminoglycosides, and betalactam-beta-lactamase combination as shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.