Survey of Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter Baumannii and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa at Ninh Thuan Province General Hospital in Vietnam in 2023.

INTRODUCTION: A significant contemporary challenge is the increasing prevalence of acquired antimicrobial resistance to multiple antibiotics. This resistance primarily results from antibiotic overuse and interactions at human-animal and human-human interfaces, particularly involving farm and slaughter animals. In Vietnam, microbiological and epidemiological research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic resistance (ABR) remains limited. The scarcity of effective therapeutic options for infections caused by emerging resistant bacterial strains has led to increased morbidity and mortality rates. This study aims to provide a detailed epidemiological and microbiological assessment of ABR among bacteria responsible for infections in Ninh Thuan province, Central Vietnam. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, conducted collaboratively between Vietnam and Italy, collected and analyzed data using Epidata 3.1 software. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 14.0, applying descriptive methods and a binomial logistic regression model. The research focused on the antibiotic resistance profiles of two important bacteria-Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 98) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 11)-isolated from clinical specimens at Ninh Thuan Provincial General Hospital between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. RESULTS: Overall, Acinetobacter baumannii showed higher levels of antibiotic resistance than Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A. baumannii exhibited high resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides (ranging from 100% to 70%). P. aeruginosa remained relatively sensitive to cefepime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, amikacin, and ceftazidime, with respective susceptibility rates of 85.7%, 77.8%, 72.8%, and 71.4%. DISCUSSION: The rise in invasive nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria has increased the overall burden of hospital-acquired infections and posed substantial challenges for hospitalized patients and the general population. This study examined the prevalence and patterns of antibacterial resistance in two clinically significant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from patients admitted to Ninh Thuan General Hospital. The high number of isolates associated with nosocomial infections at Ninh Thuan Hospital may contribute to the observed increase in infection rates, even in less densely populated regions of Vietnam. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals and the general population highlights the urgent need for effective control programs. Future regional epidemiological data on ABR and AMR patterns will be essential for implementing rigorous national antibiotic policies aimed not only at limiting the spread of resistant bacteria but also at identifying more effective solutions, both in Vietnam and in Italy.