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. 2018 Dec 6;7(2):887.
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v7i2.887. eCollection 2018.

Antibiotic resistance trends of ESKAPE pathogens in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: A five-year retrospective analysis

Yogandree Ramsamy  1 , Sabiha Y Essack  2 , Benn Sartorius  3 , Miriam Patel  2 , Koleka P Mlisana  4
Affiliations

Antibiotic resistance trends of ESKAPE pathogens in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: A five-year retrospective analysis

Yogandree Ramsamy et al. Afr J Lab Med. .

Abstract

Background: To combat antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization developed a global priority pathogen list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria for prioritisation of research and development of new, effective antibiotics.

Objective: This study describes a five-year resistance trend analysis of the ESKAPE pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp., from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: This retrospective study used National Health Laboratory Services data on 64 502 ESKAPE organisms isolated between 2011 and 2015. Susceptibility trends were ascertained from minimum inhibitory concentrations and interpreted using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Results: S. aureus was most frequently isolated (n = 24, 495, 38%), followed by K. pneumoniae (n = 14, 282, 22%). Decreasing rates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (28% to 18%, p < 0.001) and increasing rates of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing K. pneumoniae (54% to 65% p < 0.001) were observed. Carbapenem resistance among K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. was less than 6% during 2011-2014, but increased from 4% in 2014 to 16% in 2015 (p < 0.001) among K. pneumoniae. P. aeruginosa increased (p = 0.002), but resistance to anti-pseudomonal antimicrobials decreased from 2013 to 2015. High rates of multi-drug resistance were observed in A. baumanni (> 70%).

Conclusion: This study describes the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance in KwaZulu-Natal and provides a South African perspective on antimicrobial resistance in the global priority pathogen list, signalling the need for initiation or enhancement of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control measures locally.

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Conflict of interest statement

S.Y.E. reports personal fees and non-financial support as a member of the Global Respiratory Infection Partnership sponsored by an unconditional educational grant from Reckitt & Benckiser (Pty) Ltd, UK, outside the submitted work. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Trends in the number of ESKAPE pathogens isolated from clinical samples collected in public sector healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal from 2011 to 2015.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Resistance profile of K. pneumoniae (2011–2015).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Resistance profile of P. aeruginosa (2011–2015).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Resistance profile of S. aureus in the ESKAPE group (2011–2015).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Distribution of highly resistant ESKAPE pathogens (2011–2015).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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