Antimicrobial resistance pattern in different age groups - a retrospective study

Abstract

According to WHO, antibiotic resistance has emerged as a serious public health risk in the 21st century. To highlight the situation of antibiotic resistance in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, a retrospective study was conducted using 100 isolates from the Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH) Hospital for six months. The isolates obtained from patients' blood and urine involved four bacterial species. The data was stratified according to age of the patient and antibiotic susceptibility and the distribution of pathogens and their resistant pattern was determined. E. coli was found to be the most prevalent pathogen responsible for antibiotic resistance. Amoxyclav showed greater resistance in adult patients compared to children. Erythromycin has shown significant resistance in both child and adult patients towards three pathogenic species. Irrational use of antibiotics and lack of proper knowledge and awareness greatly contribute to increasing antimicrobial resistance. It is high time awareness is made and necessary steps should be taken before antibiotic resistance becomes incurable.