Analysis of Bacterial Resistance Patterns in Mahmoudiyah Hospital: A Retrospective Study in Baghdad

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance represents a critical threat to global public health, undermining the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy and complicating clinical management of bacterial infections. This retrospective study investigated the epidemiological profile and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from clinical specimens at Mahmoudiyah Hospital in Baghdad during 2024. A total of 753 infection-suspected samples were analyzed using the VITEK 2 compact system and standard biochemical methods for identification and susceptibility testing. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (10.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.7%), with Staphylococcus aureus (6.9%) also representing a significant proportion of isolates. Resistance profiles revealed alarming trends, including high methicillin resistance in S. aureus (MRSA prevalence: 77.5%) and widespread resistance among Gram-negative bacteria to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. Notably, E. coli exhibited resistance patterns suggestive of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, while Acinetobacter baumannii showed complete resistance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. Further analysis of resistance patterns showed concerning rates of resistance to first-line agents: over 90% of E. coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin, while K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa displayed reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. Additionally, a substantial proportion of Gram-positive isolates, including Enterococcus faecalis, demonstrated high-level resistance to penicillin and ciprofloxacin. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced antimicrobial stewardship, robust infection control measures, and continuous surveillance to combat the escalating challenge of multidrug-resistant infections in hospital settings.