Abstract
GENERAL PRESENTATION: Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a universal problem. With the increase in the rate of resistance, knowledge of susceptibility patterns is essential to guide antimicrobial therapy. In Lebanon, many studies investigated this subject. OBJECTIVES: Determine the rate of multidrug and extremely drug-resistant bacteria as well as the patterns of resistance and the factors associated with this resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using the cultures from the labs of two university hospitals in Lebanon. Bacteria were divided into four groups: sensitive, multidrug-, extremely- and pan-drug resistant. Patient information was obtained from the medical records. Using the SPSS software for Windows, version 20 (IBM, Armonk, USA), the frequency of the bacteria, their susceptibilities and the association of resistance with seven potential factors (age, gender, diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, previous hospitalization) were studied. RESULTS: The frequency of resistance was 53.7% (39.9% multidrug-resistant and 13.8% extremely drug-resistant). Escherichia coli strains were mostly susceptible to carbapenems and tigecycline; and nitrofurantoine and fosfomycin in urine. Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species were mostly sensitive to colistin. Klebsiella species were mostly susceptible to amikacin and carbapenems. MRSA rates were 34.8%. Association was seen between the resistant bacteria and older age, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and previous hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Resistance of bacteria to drugs in Lebanon is increasing. Significant association is seen between these bacteria and older age, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and previous hospitalization.