TITLE:
Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance of ESKAPE Pathogens before and during Pandemic COVID-19 Pandemic in a University Affiliated Hospital in Tangerang, Indonesia
AUTHORS:
Nata Pratama Hardjo Lugito, Cucunawangsih Cucunawangsih, Veronica Wiwing, Neneng Suryadinata
KEYWORDS:
Antimicrobial Resistance, COVID-19 Pandemic, ESKAPE Pathogens, Multidrug Resistance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Microbiology,
Vol.13 No.2,
June
29,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance
is the most important health problems currently. Antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent bacterial co-infections in hospitalized COVID-19
patients, and lack of surveillance were associated with antimicrobial
resistance. ESKAPE pathogens consisting of E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumanii, P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. are associated with healthcare-associated infections. Patients
and Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study aims to
describe the resistance rates of bloodstream infection due to ESKAPE pathogens
from patients admitted in Siloam Hospital Karawaci, before and during COVID-19
pandemic (January 1st, 2019 until December 31st, 2022).
Out of 296 ESKAPE pathogens collected from blood
samples, S. aureus was the most frequent species, followed by K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., and E. faecium. Results: Resistance
rates of E. faecium were alarmingly high from 2019 until 2021, but in 2022 no sample was found.
Resistance rates of S. aureus and MRSA decreased from 2019 until 2021 and then increased again in 2022
while for K. pneumoniae it peaked in 2020 and reached the lowest in 2022.
Resistance pattern of A. baumanii was not favorable from 2019 until 2021, but decreased dramatically in 2022.
Resistance pattern of P. aeruginosa was quite variable in 2021 and 2022 while for Enterobacter spp. it was variable in 2020 to 2022. Conclusion: The COVID-19
pandemic affected the antimicrobial resistance pattern of ESKAPE pathogens in Banten province, Indonesia. Resistance rates increased as the
pandemic peaked in 2020 to 2021, and decreased as the pandemic resolves in
2022.