TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular Epidemiology of Different Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Among Patients Suffering from Surgical Site Infections in Lebanon
AU - Kawtharani, Inass
AU - Ghssein, Ghassan
AU - Srour, Ola
AU - Chaaban, Abdul Amir
AU - Salameh, Pascale
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/10
Y1 - 2025/10
N2 - Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, particularly in surgical site infections (SSIs), where multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens complicate treatment. Objective: This study aimed to identify antimicrobial resistance genes and assess their prevalence in bacterial species causing SSIs in Lebanon. Materials and Methods: The present research is a multicenter and prospective study that included patients who developed SSIs after surgery in seven hospitals, within the period of January 2024–September 2024. Bacterial isolates from wound swabs or tissue samples were identified using standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion, and resistance genes were detected by PCR. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Among 6933 surgical patients, 63 developed SSIs (0.91%; 95% CI [0.70–1.15]). Gram-negative bacteria predominated (73%), mainly Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while Gram-positive isolates accounted for 27%, mostly Staphylococcus aureus. MDR was observed in 71% of Gram-positive and 61% of Gram-negative isolates. The most frequent genes were mecA in S. aureus (100%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (83.3%); blaCTX-M in E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae (100%); and blaNDM in E. cloacae (100%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (60%). blaKPC was less common, and no isolates carried Imipenemase (IMP), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), and Oxacillinase-48-like β-lactamase (OXA-48). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in agents causing SSIs in Lebanese hospitals. Resistance genes, particularly mecA, blaCTX-M, and blaNDM, were highly prevalent in SSI pathogens, underscoring the urgent need for surveillance and judicious antibiotic use in Lebanese hospitals.
AB - Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, particularly in surgical site infections (SSIs), where multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens complicate treatment. Objective: This study aimed to identify antimicrobial resistance genes and assess their prevalence in bacterial species causing SSIs in Lebanon. Materials and Methods: The present research is a multicenter and prospective study that included patients who developed SSIs after surgery in seven hospitals, within the period of January 2024–September 2024. Bacterial isolates from wound swabs or tissue samples were identified using standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion, and resistance genes were detected by PCR. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Among 6933 surgical patients, 63 developed SSIs (0.91%; 95% CI [0.70–1.15]). Gram-negative bacteria predominated (73%), mainly Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while Gram-positive isolates accounted for 27%, mostly Staphylococcus aureus. MDR was observed in 71% of Gram-positive and 61% of Gram-negative isolates. The most frequent genes were mecA in S. aureus (100%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (83.3%); blaCTX-M in E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae (100%); and blaNDM in E. cloacae (100%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (60%). blaKPC was less common, and no isolates carried Imipenemase (IMP), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), and Oxacillinase-48-like β-lactamase (OXA-48). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in agents causing SSIs in Lebanese hospitals. Resistance genes, particularly mecA, blaCTX-M, and blaNDM, were highly prevalent in SSI pathogens, underscoring the urgent need for surveillance and judicious antibiotic use in Lebanese hospitals.
KW - hospital
KW - Lebanon
KW - multidrug resistance
KW - resistance genes
KW - surgical site infections
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020177128
U2 - 10.3390/microbiolres16100216
DO - 10.3390/microbiolres16100216
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105020177128
SN - 2036-7473
VL - 16
JO - Microbiology Research
JF - Microbiology Research
IS - 10
M1 - 216
ER -