Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance in Karbala city hospitals, Iraq: a comprehensive monitoring study from 2023
University of Al-Ameed College of Pharmacy.
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2025, 09(02), 030-036.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2025.9.2.0040
Publication history:
Received on 14 March 2025; revised on 20 April 2025; accepted on 23 April 2025
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose a tremendous challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Our team conducted comprehensive surveillance across six hospitals in Karbala province to assess local resistance patterns. Clinical specimens yielded 8,363 bacterial isolates that were analyzed using the WHONET surveillance program throughout 2023. Results indicated troubling multidrug resistance rates, with approximately 21% of Acinetobacter species and Escherichia coli demonstrating resistance to three or more antibiotic classes. Similarly, 19% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates exhibited multidrug resistance profiles. Beta-lactam antibiotics showed particularly diminished efficacy, with high resistance rates observed against ampicillin (87%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (72%), and first-generation cephalosporins (68%). Carbapenems retained relatively better activity against gram-negative pathogens, with resistance rates of 17-23%, while colistin resistance remained below 10%. For gram-positive infections, vancomycin maintained good efficacy with resistance rates under 5%. These findings provide essential local epidemiological data to inform antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and guide empirical therapy protocols in our region.
Keywords:
Escherichia coli; antibiotic; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacterial Isolates
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0