Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract Background Colistin is used to treat multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Rising colistin resistance worldwide has created challenges in effective treatment and raised treatment costs. Our study aimed to understand the prevalence of colistin resistance in carbapenem-resistant gram-ne...

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Main Authors: Nazia Khursheed, Fareeha Adnan, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Ramlla Hatif
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10535-z
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author Nazia Khursheed
Fareeha Adnan
Moiz Ahmed Khan
Ramlla Hatif
author_facet Nazia Khursheed
Fareeha Adnan
Moiz Ahmed Khan
Ramlla Hatif
author_sort Nazia Khursheed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Colistin is used to treat multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Rising colistin resistance worldwide has created challenges in effective treatment and raised treatment costs. Our study aimed to understand the prevalence of colistin resistance in carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria, associated pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern at our institute, to help limit further development of resistance. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Indus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Variables extracted from the electronic patient care database included the type of patient samples, clinical diagnoses, frequency of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Microsoft Excel software (Microsoft Excel 2013 {15.0.5553.1000} 32-bit) was used for analysis. Susceptibility results were interpreted in accordance with the M100 guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results A total of 1,785 carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated during the study period. Thirty (1.7%) of these exhibited colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≥ 4 µg/ml and were characterized as colistin-resistant. Most patients with colistin-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections were males (57%), aged 31–49 and ≥ 50 years (37% each), and in-patients (60%). Majority had urinary tract infection (34%), followed by bloodstream infection (30%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (23%), and skin and soft tissue infection (13%). Organisms included Klebsiella species (77%), Acinetobacter baumanii (20%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3%). Tigecycline was the most susceptible antibiotic among isolates (96%) while, fosfomycin (53%), minocycline (50%), doxycycline (45%) and tetracycline (42%) exhibited moderate susceptibility. Conclusion Our study highlights a concerning prevalence of colistin resistance (1.7%) among carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria, particularly Klebsiella species, predominantly affecting male in-patients aged 31–49 and ≥ 50 years. This significant therapeutic challenge is underscored by the limited efficacy of available antibiotics, with only tigecycline showing high susceptibility (96%) and others like fosfomycin (53%) and minocycline (50%) offering moderate alternatives.
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spelling doaj-art-a65a6394d3c54515ba20a4bdf541d0eb2025-02-09T12:14:37ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-02-012511810.1186/s12879-025-10535-zRegional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, PakistanNazia Khursheed0Fareeha Adnan1Moiz Ahmed Khan2Ramlla Hatif3Section of Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Indus Hospital & Health NetworkSection of Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Indus Hospital & Health NetworkSection of Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Indus Hospital & Health NetworkSection of Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Indus Hospital & Health NetworkAbstract Background Colistin is used to treat multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Rising colistin resistance worldwide has created challenges in effective treatment and raised treatment costs. Our study aimed to understand the prevalence of colistin resistance in carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria, associated pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern at our institute, to help limit further development of resistance. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Indus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Variables extracted from the electronic patient care database included the type of patient samples, clinical diagnoses, frequency of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Microsoft Excel software (Microsoft Excel 2013 {15.0.5553.1000} 32-bit) was used for analysis. Susceptibility results were interpreted in accordance with the M100 guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results A total of 1,785 carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated during the study period. Thirty (1.7%) of these exhibited colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≥ 4 µg/ml and were characterized as colistin-resistant. Most patients with colistin-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections were males (57%), aged 31–49 and ≥ 50 years (37% each), and in-patients (60%). Majority had urinary tract infection (34%), followed by bloodstream infection (30%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (23%), and skin and soft tissue infection (13%). Organisms included Klebsiella species (77%), Acinetobacter baumanii (20%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3%). Tigecycline was the most susceptible antibiotic among isolates (96%) while, fosfomycin (53%), minocycline (50%), doxycycline (45%) and tetracycline (42%) exhibited moderate susceptibility. Conclusion Our study highlights a concerning prevalence of colistin resistance (1.7%) among carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria, particularly Klebsiella species, predominantly affecting male in-patients aged 31–49 and ≥ 50 years. This significant therapeutic challenge is underscored by the limited efficacy of available antibiotics, with only tigecycline showing high susceptibility (96%) and others like fosfomycin (53%) and minocycline (50%) offering moderate alternatives.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10535-zColistin resistanceCarbapenem resistanceMultidrug resistanceGram-negative bacteriaAntimicrobial susceptibility
spellingShingle Nazia Khursheed
Fareeha Adnan
Moiz Ahmed Khan
Ramlla Hatif
Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
BMC Infectious Diseases
Colistin resistance
Carbapenem resistance
Multidrug resistance
Gram-negative bacteria
Antimicrobial susceptibility
title Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
title_full Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
title_fullStr Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
title_short Regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria: an observational cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan
title_sort regional insights on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of carbapenem and colistin resistant gram negative bacteria an observational cross sectional study from karachi pakistan
topic Colistin resistance
Carbapenem resistance
Multidrug resistance
Gram-negative bacteria
Antimicrobial susceptibility
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10535-z
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