Antibiotics (May 2023)
Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of <i>Streptococcus</i>, <i>Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> and <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> in Two Reference Hospitals of Yaoundé: An Overview before and during COVID-19 Pandemic Era
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to tremendously use of antimicrobial due to the lack of proper treatment strategies, raising concerns about emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aimed at determining the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of selected bacteria isolates in 02 referral health facilities in Yaoundé before and during the COVID-19 pandemic era. We conducted a retrospective study over a period of 03 years (from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021) in the bacteriology units of the Central and General Hospitals of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Data on bacteria genera (Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Neisseria meningitidis and Enterobacteriaceae) as well as their corresponding specifics antibiotics: Cefixime, azythromycin and erythromycin were obtained from laboratory records. The global resistance rate of bacteria as well as their correlation with antibiotics according to COVID-19 pandemic era was determined and compared. For p Enterobacteriaceae exhibited greater resistance rate during the pandemic period [60% (48/80) in 2019 to 86.9% (60/69) in 2020 and 64.5% (61/95) in 2021)]. Concerning antibiotics, unlike erythromycin, azythromycin related resitance increased during the pandemic period and the resistance to Cefixim tends to decrease the year of the pandemic onset (2020) and re-increase one year therafter. A significant association was found between resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains and cefixime (R = 0.7; p = 0.0001) and also, between resistant Staphylococcus strains and erythromycin (R = 0.8; p = 0.0001). These retrospective data showed a herogeneous MDR bacteria rate and antibiotic resistance pattern over time before and during the COVID-19 pandemic era suggesting that antimicrobial resistance needs to be more closely monitored.
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