Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Military Medical Academy, Military Institute of Health and Epidemiology, Egypt
2
Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, Egypt
3
Department of Public Health, Community Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly challenge patient safety and healthcare quality worldwide. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further complicates the management of these infections. Aim: This study aimed to determine the types of pathogens involved in hospital-acquired infections, their antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance patterns in different wards and ICUs at Al-Galaa Military Medical Complex from January 2022 to December 2023 through a comprehensive retrospective analysis of infection types, bacterial cultures, and susceptibility profiles. Methods: A total of 3011 clinical isolates were obtained from different wards and ICUs in the hospital. Patients were diagnosed based on their clinical presentation, accompanied by a comprehensive collection of clinical history that emphasized associated risk factors, including length of hospital stay, existing medical conditions, and any invasive medical procedures undertaken through a questionnaire. Results: The study revealed higher infection rates in critical care areas, particularly in the Neurology ICU (14.2%), Burn ICU (10.5%), and Internal Medicine ICU (10.2%). Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant pathogens, with Klebsiella spp. (34.3%), E. coli (19.0%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.9%) being the most frequent. Alarmingly high antibiotic resistance rates were observed, particularly to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ampicillin/sulbactam (74.6% resistance for both). Carbapenems also showed resistance in over half of the patients. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of developing strategies for preventing infections and implementing antimicrobial stewardship initiatives customized to local resistance trends. It is essential to enhance monitoring systems, establish feedback mechanisms, and provide ongoing training for healthcare workers to boost compliance with infection control measures. To reduce hospital-acquired infections, improve patient care, and contribute to global efforts against antimicrobial resistance, a multidisciplinary approach involving doctors, microbiologists, hospital management, and government officials is necessary.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)
View on SCiNiTO