Antimicrobial stewardship approach: Prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria at a regional hospital in South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial stewardship practices are crucial for the regular surveillance to change the antimicrobial policy. This study was conducted to decide the prevalence of common bacteria and their antibiogram regarding antimicrobial stewardship program within one year, at the regional and district, Stanger hospital in South Africa.

Methodology: It was based the study on clinical data and laboratory records of the patients. It reviewed the clinical and laboratory data. The prevalence/proportion rate was calculated and correlated with the majority of microorganism vs empirical therapy.

Results: The prevalence of MRSA, MRSE, VRSA, ESBL+ K. pneumoniae; E. coli cultured from the blood was 25%, 49%, 2%, 62% and 27% respectively. Similarly, we analysed for other targeted MDROs organisms (Acinetobacter species and P. aeruginosa, CRE, CPE) isolated from blood culture and endotracheal aspirate. The prevalence of MDR Acinetobacter species exceeded 61%, 33% from the blood and ETA respectively. The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa was 10% from ETA. The MRSA, MRSE, VRSA, VRE were observed in blood specimen. The majority of the microorganisms cultured from the CSF was Cryptococcus neoformans and followed by bacteria: Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus group B and Haemorphilus influenza.

Conclusion: The selection of empirical antimicrobial therapy relates not only the institutions or unit-specific antibiogram but also the site of infection. We can further suggest continuing to do surveillance of antibiogram and prevalence of MDR organisms for infection control as well as for empirical therapy, part of the antimicrobial stewardship program based on yearly records to change the local hospital antibiotic policy.

Keywords: antibiotic stewardship program; antimicrobial resistant bacteria; empirical therapy; prevalence; surveillance.