Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global public health threat and significantly affects clinical outcomes, particularly in hospital settings. Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among clinically important bacterial pathogens is essential to guide empirical therapy and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship strategies.
Objective: Evaluation of the current state of antibiotic resistance of bacteria causing bloodstream infections at Hai Phong Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital in 2023-2024.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using bacterial isolates recovered from routine clinical specimens. Bacterial identification was performed using standard microbiological methods, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing according to current international recommendations (CLSI guidelines). Resistance rates were calculated for each bacterial species against the tested antimicrobial agents.
Results:
A substantial burden of antimicrobial resistance was observed across both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Among S. aureus isolates, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) showed extremely high resistance to erythromycin (94.2%) and clindamycin (91.4%), while resistance to vancomycin and linezolid remained minimal (0.3% and 0%, respectively). For Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli demonstrated high resistance to ampicillin (91.8%), ciprofloxacin (79.3%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (77.2%), whereas carbapenem resistance remained low. K. pneumoniae exhibited notable carbapenem resistance (38.9% for imipenem and 39.3% for meropenem). High levels of resistance were also identified in P. aeruginosa. The most alarming pattern was observed in A. baumannii, with resistance exceeding 80% for most antimicrobial classes, including carbapenems.
Conclusion:
The study demonstrated a considerable burden of antimicrobial resistance, particularly multidrug resistance and carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative pathogens, alongside high resistance rates among MRSA isolates. These findings highlight the urgent need for strengthened antimicrobial surveillance and implementation of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs.