ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PATTERNS IN RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN SINDH

Abstract

Background: Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) present a major global health challenge, being the lethal communicable diseases and the third most common cause of death worldwide, after ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases. The growing issue of antibiotic resistance is an international public health crisis, primarily caused by the over-prescription of antibiotics.

Methodology: The research was conducted at the Medical Research Centre and data was collected from Diagnostic and Research (DR) Laboratory of LUMHS, located in Jamshoro, Pakistan. The data regarding infections were retrieved from the laboratory records of sputum cultures performed over past six months.

Result: A total of 600 sputum culture data was retrieved, out of which, 343 (57.2%) sputum samples were isolation-positive from males, while 257 (42.8%) were isolation-positive from females. The primary causative organism of RTIs was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with 253 positive cases (42.2% total). This was followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, with 243 cases (40.5%). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed Meropenem (85% sensitive, 15% resistant), Piperacillin/Tazobactam (84% sensitive, 16% resistant) Amikacin (82% sensitive, 18% resistant), and Colistin (100% sensitive), while Ceftazidime (71% sensitive, 29% resistant) and Ciprofloxacin (50% sensitive, 50% resistant) were moderately effective. Less effective antibiotics included Aztreonam (54% sensitive, 46% resistant), Ceftriaxone (28% sensitive, 72% resistant), Cefixime (22% sensitive, 78% resistant), and Ampicillin (0.4% sensitive, 99.6% resistant).

Conclusion: Antibiotics resistance to RTI in Sindh was observed, with a striking predominance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, particularly affecting elderly males. Colistin, Meropenem, and Piperacillin/Tazobactam were effective; however, first-line antibiotics such as Ampicillin and Cefixime exhibited high resistance in this study. The study emphasizes the importance of culture-based prescribing and highlights the need for improved diagnostic capacity and AMR surveillance on a regional scale. Public education regarding antibiotic misuse was implemented, and future research in the areas of the rising threat of multidrug resistance and the opposing goal of achieving effective treatment outcomes is recommended.