To Örebro University

Background: A global rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections has led to a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are recognised for rapidly developing drug resistance. Despite Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the second most common GNB isolated from healthcare associated infections, the magnitude of MDR P. aeruginosa (MDR-PA) has not been evaluated in Qatar.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of MDR-PA from 5major hospitals in Qatar.

Methods: A total of 2533P. aeruginosaclinical isolates were collected over a one-year period. MDR-PA was defined as resistance to at least one agent of3 antibiotic classes. Clinical and demographic data were collected prospectively.

Findings: The overall prevalence of MDR-PA isolates was 8.1% (205/2533); the majority of isolates were from patients exposed to antibiotics during 90 days prior to isolation (85.4%,177/205), and the infections were mainly hospital-acquired (95.1%, 195/205) with only 4.9% from the community. The majority of MDR-PA isolates were resistant to cefepime (96.6%, 198/205), ciprofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam (91%, 186/205), and meropenem (90%, 184/205). Patient comorbidities with MDR-PA were diabetes mellitus (47.3%, n¼97), malignancy (17.1%, n¼35), end-stage renal disease (13.7%, n¼28) and heart failure (10.7%, n¼22).

Conclusion: There was a significant prevalence of MDR-PA in Qatar, primarily from healthcare facilities and associated with prior antibiotic treatment. There was an alarming level of antimicrobial resistance to carbapenems. Our results are part of a national surveillance of MDR to establish effective containment plans.

Background: The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics is universal across all healthcare facilities. In Qatar there has been a substantial increase in antimicrobial consumption coupled with a significant rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) have become a standard intervention for effective optimization of antimicrobial prescribing.

Methods: A before–after study was conducted in Hamad General Hospital (603 bed acute care hospital): 1 year before implementation of a comprehensive ASP compared with the following 2 years. The ASP included a hospital-wide pre-authorization requirement by infectious diseases physicians for all broad-spectrum antibiotics. Prevalence of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa was compared with antimicrobial consumption, calculated as DDD per 1000 patient-days (DDD/1000 PD). Susceptibility was determined using broth microdilution, as per CLSI guidelines. Antibiotic use was restricted through the ASP, as defined in the hospital’s antibiotic policy.

Results: A total of 6501 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were collected prospectively over 3 years (2014–17). Susceptibility to certain antimicrobials improved after the ASP was implemented in August 2015. The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa showed a sustained decrease from 2014 (9%) to 2017 (5.46%) (P"0.019). There was a significant 23.9% reduction in studied antimicrobial consumption following ASP implementation (P"0.008). They early consumption of meropenem significantly decreased from 47.32 to 31.90 DDD/1000 PD (P"0.012), piperacillin/tazobactam from 45.35 to 32.67 DDD/1000 PD (P,0.001) and ciprofloxacin from 9.71 to 5.63 DDD/1000 PD (P"0.015) (from 2014 to 2017).

Conclusions: The successful implementation of the ASP led to a significant reduction in rates of MDR P. aeruginosa, pointing towards the efficacy of the ASP in reducing AMR.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the in vitro activity of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam against clinical isolates of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Qatar, as well as the mechanisms of resistance.

METHODS: MDR P. aeruginosa isolated between October 2014 and September 2015 from all public hospitals in Qatar were included. The BD PhoenixTM system was used for identification and initial antimicrobial susceptibility testing, while Liofilchem MIC Test Strips (Liofilchem, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy) were used for confirmation of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam susceptibility. Ten ceftazidime/avibactam- and/or ceftolozane/tazobactam-resistant isolates were randomly selected for WGS.

RESULTS: A total of 205 MDR P. aeruginosa isolates were included. Of these, 141 (68.8%) were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam, 129 (62.9%) were susceptible to ceftolozane/tazobactam, 121 (59.0%) were susceptible to both and 56 (27.3%) were susceptible to neither. Twenty (9.8%) isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam but not to ceftolozane/tazobactam and only 8 (3.9%) were susceptible to ceftolozane/tazobactam but not to ceftazidime/avibactam. Less than 50% of XDR isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam or ceftolozane/tazobactam. The 10 sequenced isolates belonged to six different STs and all produced AmpC and OXA enzymes; 5 (50%) produced ESBL and 4 (40%) produced VIM enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS: MDR P. aeruginosa susceptibility rates to ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam were higher than those to all existing antipseudomonal agents, except colistin, but were less than 50% in extremely resistant isolates. Non-susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam was largely due to the production of ESBL and VIM enzymes. Ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam are possible options for some patients with MDR P. aeruginosa in Qatar.