Microbiological Profile and Drug-Resistance Pattern of Pathogens Among Patients Who Visited the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health threat in developing countries including Ethiopia; and there is a paucity of information regarding antimicrobial resistance patterns of commonly isolated pathogens, particularly in the study area. Hence, this study aimed to assess the microbiological profiles and resistance patterns of pathogens among patients who visited a tertiary hospital in the study setting.

Methods

This study was based on secondary data sources from the hospital microbiology database and culture reports between September 2019 and August 2020 at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospitals, Ethiopia. Data about socio-demographic characteristics and clinical parameters, types of specimens collected, culture results, and antibiotic resistance pattern were collected manually by using a data abstraction format from the department of clinical bacteriology registration book and electronic database.

Results

A total of 5328 culture results were included in the final analysis. Bacterial growth was documented only in 803 (15.1%) samples. From the positive culture results documented, the highest positivity rate was reported from abscess (47.8%) followed by blood (26.2%) and urine (15.1%) samples. Among the bacterial isolates S. aureus (32.5%), Klebsiella species (17.9%), E. coli (14.8%) and Streptococcus species (7.4%) were the commonly identified organisms. Of the 803 bacterial isolates, about 672 (83.6%) isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 19.7% isolates were MDR.

Conclusion

This study showed that Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia species, and Escherichia coli were the commonest isolated pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance among common isolates was high for most routinely used antibiotics, and some reserved drugs like carbapenems and fourth-generation cephalosporin. Thus, this study may have implications on patient management, drug procurement, local treatment guideline development, and rational use of antibiotics. Furthermore, this finding could also help to facilitate the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control interventions within the hospital.

Keywords:

• microbiological profile
• antimicrobial resistance
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge data collectors, hospital administrators, and Microbiology department staff for their support.

Abbreviations

CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; ICU, intensive care unit; IPC, infection prevention and control; MDR, multi-drug resistant; NCCLS, National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards; NICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; TB, tuberculosis; OPD, outpatient department; trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Gondar ethical review board. In addition, permission was also obtained from the hospital chief clinical director and microbiology unit head of the hospital. Patient identifiers were not used to ensure the privacy of study participants. All information obtained during this study was kept confidential and used merely for the research purpose. Regarding ethical issues, this study protocol was conducted in accordance with the World Medical Association (WMA) Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable as there is no image or other confidentiality related issues.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest for this work.