Infection with Gram-negative Bacteria among Children at a Tertiary Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) constitute a severe threat to public health by becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide; they are challenging to treat and highly adaptive pathogens that develop resistance to antibiotics through several mechanisms with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the incidence and outcome of children with GNB infections at a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective cohort study was done in 2019 on a total of 278 patients aged from one month to 16 years. Data were collected from patient medical records by using a data collection sheet without exclusion criteria. Among patients with GNB, more than half were males with 57.9% (161), while 42.1% (117) were females. However, the most GNB isolated were Staphylococcus in 31.7% (88) of the patient then Klebsiella in 18% (50). Organisms isolated from urine were 46.1% (117), which was the primary site of isolation, where blood was 26.6% (74). About 20.1% (56) were primarily diagnosed with sepsis. The length of stay was around one month or less, with more than half of patients 56.5% (157). The mortality rate was 9.4% (26/278). A patient between one and 5 years of age was the most age affected by multidrug-resistant (MDR) (11/16). No statistically significant differences were observed between the MDR and non-MDR patients with GNB infections concerning age, length of stay, and mortality rate. Conversely, there were statistically significant differences in primary diagnosis, isolated organisms, and site of isolation with MDR and non-MDR. Staphylococcus and Klebsiella were the most abundant GNB, and the mortality rate was 9.4%. However, additional studies in other settings with a larger sample size are needed to compare between different healthcare facilities.