Pre- and post-COVID-19 antimicrobial resistance profile of bacterial pathogens, a comparative study in a tertiary hospital

Authors

  • Mohammed H Taleb Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University–Gaza, Gaza, Palestine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7553-6251
  • Abdelraouf A Elmanama Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
  • Alaa H Taleb Palestinian Ministry of Health, European Gaza Hospital, Gaza, Palestine
  • Mahmoud M Tawfick Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9825-2198

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.17791

Keywords:

antimicrobials, bacteria, COVID-19, pandemic, resistance

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural evolutionary process in bacteria that is accelerated by selection pressure from the frequent and irrational use of antimicrobial drugs. This study aimed to determine the variations in AMR patterns of priority bacterial pathogens at a tertiary care hospital in the Gaza Strip during pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study to determine the AMR patterns of bacterial pathogens at a tertiary hospital in the Gaza Strip in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Positive-bacterial culture data of 2039 samples from pre-COVID-19 period and 1827 samples from post-COVID-19 period were obtained from microbiology laboratory records. These data were analysed and compared by Chi square test using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Program.

Results: Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens were isolated. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent in both study periods. The overall AMR rate was high. There was a statistically significant increase in resistance to cloxacillin, erythromycin, cephalexin, co-trimoxazole and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in the post-COVID-19 period compared to pre-COVID-19 period. There was also a significant decrease in resistance to cefuroxime, cefotaxime, gentamicin, doxycycline, rifampicin, vancomycin and meropenem in the post-COVID-19 period.

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMR rates of restricted and noncommunity-used antimicrobials declined. However, there was an increase in AMR to antimicrobials used without medical prescription. Therefore, restriction on the sale of antimicrobial drugs by community pharmacies without a prescription, hospital antimicrobial stewardship and awareness about the dangers of extensive use of antibiotics are recommended.

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Published

2023-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Taleb MH, Elmanama AA, Taleb AH, Tawfick MM (2023) Pre- and post-COVID-19 antimicrobial resistance profile of bacterial pathogens, a comparative study in a tertiary hospital. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:597–609. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17791

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic