Antibiogram of pathogenic bacterial isolates from various samples in Prince Sultan Hospital, Western Region, Saudi Arabia. Retrospective study from 2020 to 2024.

BACKGROUND: Antibiograms support empirical therapy by providing local antimicrobial susceptibility data, guiding clinical decisions, and stewardship efforts. Rising multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria highlight the importance of continuous antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance to inform local treatment guidelines. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess AMR rates in clinical pathogenic isolates obtained from community-acquired infections at a general hospital in Western Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Antibiogram data were analyzed retrospectively from January 2020 to September 2024, focusing on pathogenic bacteria and AMR isolates. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This study shows high rates of ESBL-producing E. coli and the rapid emergence of resistance to last-resort antibiotics, indicating therapeutic exhaustion despite stable resistance to older drug classes. These trends, likely driven by antibiotic overuse during COVID-19, highlight shrinking treatment options and the urgent need to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and reassess empirical therapies.