Investigation on antimicrobial resistance pattern of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from patients of Bangladesh

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Pseudomonas spp. represents a critical public health challenge in Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh. This study employed analysis of three years of retrospective hospital records from Feni (n=540) and prospective laboratory detection and antimicrobial sensitivity study of isolates (n=28). Retrospective findings showed Pseudomonas spp. as a common wound and pus pathogen, with 57% of cases in male patients and widespread multidrug resistance (MDR), though carbapenems retained relative effectiveness. In contrast, prospective testing confirmed the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=22) by 16S rRNA PCR, revealing a higher resistance burden, with 67.9% MDR, 57.1% extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and several isolates exhibiting a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 1.00. These results demonstrate that while rural areas act as reservoirs of resistant strains due to unregulated antibiotic use, urban hospitals face stronger selective pressures, driving higher MDR and XDR prevalence. Our findings highlight the need for robust surveillance and antibiotic stewardship across healthcare settings.