Background and objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a global health challenge that affects both individuals and the health system in many ways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance pattern in isolates from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Qazvin, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive and retrospective study was performed on urine and blood samples collected from 1318 ICU patients in the Velayat Hospital of Qazvin (Iran) during 2017-2019. Data were collected from patients’ medical records. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 25).
Results: Based on the findings, 65.2% of the samples were related to urinary tract infections and 34.7% to bloodstream infections. Escherichia coli (68.6%) and Stenotrophomonas (41.0%) were the most common bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections, respectively. Moreover, the rate of antibiotic resistance was higher among Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas isolates.
Conclusion: The rate of drug resistance in isolates from ICU patients is alarmingly high and requires immediate attention. It is recommended to modify antibiotic prescriptions in the hospital based on the results of antibiotic resistance pattern, particularly for treatment of infections caused by E. coli and Stenotrophomonas.
Keywords: Drug resistance, Intensive care units, Hospitals
