Antibacterial susceptibility of Enterobacterales in hospital environments

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are acquired inside hospitals, constituting a significant public health problem at the in-hospital level due to the increase in morbidity and mortality. The transmission of these infections occurs due to three factors: the agent, the host, and the environment. Furthermore, bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge due to the high resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Objective: To describe the characteristics of Enterobacterales from isolates from hospital surfaces using microbiological methods and evaluate susceptibility using the Kirby Bauer technique. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Samples were obtained from the operating room, newborns, neonatology, adult ICU, emergency room, and hospitalization at the Catholic University Hospital of Cuenca. The different bacterial species were identified using API 20E—Biomérieux galleries, and the susceptibility evaluation was elaborated using the Kirby-Bauer method. Results: A group of 16% of the total samples showed growth of different bacterial species, and strains of Pantoea spp 8%, Enterobacter cloacae 4%, Escherichia coli 2%, and Yersinia pestis 2% were identified. E. coli showed resistance to ceftazidime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin; Yersinia pestis showed resistance to ceftazidime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and cefuroxime; and, in the same line, Pantoea spp and Enterobacter cloacae presented resistance to different beta-lactam antibiotics. Conclusion: Enterobacterales with significant resistance profiles on hospital surfaces were evident.