Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the distribution and drug resistance patterns of clinically isolated bacteria at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital) from 2018 to 2024, thereby guiding the precise selection of effective antimicrobial agents in clinical practice and providing data support for the development of individualized anti-infective treatment strategies. METHODS: Clinical isolates from outpatients and inpatients were collected at the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, excluding duplicate strains. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive epidemiological methods with SPSS 22.0, Prism 10.0, and WHONET 5.6 software. RESULTS: Over seven years, 9,180 clinical isolates were identified, with a positive detection rate of 7.78%–8.41%. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 67% (6,151 strains), while Gram-positive bacteria comprised 23% (2,139 strains). The top three isolated pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Resistance analysis revealed high overall resistance rates among common pathogens. Carbapenem resistance rates during this period were as follows: K. pneumoniae (25.0%–35.8%), A. baumannii (76.5%–94.7%), P. aeruginosa (13.3%–25.3%), and Escherichia coli (2.0%–10.7%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection rates ranged from 35.3% to 60%, while methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCNS) detection rates were 80.4%–91.2%. CONCLUSION: Investigating bacterial distribution and resistance patterns in a regional cardiovascular center provides critical evidence for optimizing antibiotic use and infection control. Importantly, multidrug-resistant infections, particularly CRABA and MRSA, were associated with significantly increased mortality and prolonged hospitalization, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced stewardship and surveillance to mitigate this clinical burden. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-025-12367-3.