Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Among Major Bacterial Pathogens Isolated from Clinical Samples in Bangladesh (2017–2020): A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Among Major Bacterial Pathogens Isolated from Clinical Samples in Bangladesh (2017–2020): A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health issue in Bangladesh, where antibiotic use is widespread but often unregulated. This nationwide cross-sectional study (2017–2020) analyzed data from 26 public and private laboratories across all divisions of the country. Standardized data on...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aninda Rahman, Mohammad Julhas Sujan, S. M. Shahriar Rizvi, Hridika Talukder Barua, Zakir Hossain Habib, Hurul Jannat, Piash Kumer Deb, Abul Hasnat, Soo Young Kwon, Ahmed Taha Aboushady, Adam Clark, John Stelling, Sanjay Gautam, Alina Shaw, Marianne Holm, Florian Marks, Nimesh Poudyal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Microbiology Research
Subjects:
AMR surveillance
resistance
patterns
antibiogram
WHONET
QAAPT
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/6/122
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health issue in Bangladesh, where antibiotic use is widespread but often unregulated. This nationwide cross-sectional study (2017–2020) analyzed data from 26 public and private laboratories across all divisions of the country. Standardized data on antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) were collected, curated, and analyzed using WHONET, QAAPT, and R software to assess resistance patterns in 232,329 bacterial isolates from various clinical specimens. <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most common pathogen (32.5%), followed by <i>Klebsiella</i> sp. (15.5%) and <i>Pseudomonas</i> sp. (10.6%). Urine specimens comprised 50.3% of the tested samples, while blood and soft tissue/body fluids accounted for 12.1% and 24.8%, respectively. Patients aged 55 years and older represented the largest group (36.3%), highlighting their vulnerability to drug-resistant infections. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was alarmingly high in <i>Escherichia coli</i> (62.9% resistant to ceftriaxone), whereas carbapenem resistance remained relatively low (5.3% and 6.8% to imipenem and meropenem, respectively). <i>Klebsiella</i> sp. showed widespread resistance, though carbapenems remained relatively effective (imipenem resistance 20.3%, meropenem 21.7%). In contrast, <i>Salmonella</i> sp. remained largely sensitive to third-generation cephalosporins. However, 42% of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolates were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). This study underscores the urgent need for improved antibiotic stewardship, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and strengthened AMR surveillance to preserve treatment options in Bangladesh.
ISSN:2036-7481

Similar Items