AUTHOR=Desalegn Yasin , Bitew Adane , Adane Amanuel 

TITLE=A spectrum of non-spore-forming fermentative and non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria: multi-drug resistance, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, and carbapenemase production

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Antibiotics

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/antibiotics/articles/10.3389/frabi.2023.1155005

DOI=10.3389/frabi.2023.1155005

ISSN=2813-2467

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>In developing countries, the co-existence of a high burden of infectious diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria and the rapid increase and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria have become a serious health threat.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>Profiling of Gram-negative bacteria and determining the magnitude of their antimicrobial resistance among patients.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A total of 175 non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from 873 different clinical samples. Of a total of 175 bacteria, 154 (88%) were fermentative Gram-negative bacteria, while 21 (12%) were non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria<italic>. E. coli</italic> with a frequency of 58.3% and <italic>K. pneumoniae</italic> with a frequency of 18.3% were the predominant fermentative Gram-negative bacteria, while <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> 9 (5.1%) and <italic>A. baumannii</italic> 6 (3.4%) were the predominant non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria. The highest percentage level of antibiotic resistance was seen against ampicillin (86%), and the lowest against meropenem (9.8). About 49 (28%) Gram-negative bacilli were positive for ESBLase. The overall prevalence rate of MDR bacteria was 80.5%, of which 100% of A. <italic>baumannii</italic>, 90.6% <italic>of K. pneumonia.</italic> Sixteen isolates were resistant to meropenem, out of which 11 tested for carbapenemase production. Five of the nine were metallo-lactamase producers, with the remaining four being serine carbapenemase producers.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The prevalence of Gram-negative bacterial infection was found to be 20%, with a significant proportion (80.0%) due to fermentative Gram-negative bacteria and the remaining 20% due to non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria. The study has also demonstrated a high prevalence rate of MDR, ESBLase, and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance of Gram-negative bacteria should be monitored on a regular basis, and an effective infection control program should be implemented.</p></sec>