Antibiotics susceptibility of isolates from clinical specimens before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

is a Gram-negative organism causing mild to severe infections, with a wide spectrum range of organs involved. The study aimed to describe antibiotics susceptibility of from clinical specimens from October 11, 2019 to September 11, 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study was conducted retrospectively in a private microbiology laboratory in Mataram Indonesia. Period of study divided as two groups after WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic by March 11, 2020; group A including the specimen related to September 2019 to March 11 2020 and group B including the specimens related to March 11 2020 to September 2020. All clinical specimens were subjected to identify isolates and their antibiotics susceptibility using WHO-NET 5.6 version.

RESULTS

Totally, 148 isolates were found in group A and 62 isolates in group B. Prevalence of extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)- producing in group A was 50% and in group B was 20.9% with significantly difference (p<0.05). There was an increase in susceptibility to 10/16 antibiotics; where 3 antibiotics ofloxacin, aztreonam, and fosfomycin were significant (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in susceptibility to the antibiotics piperacillin (p=0.012), amoxicillin (p=0.002), cefadroxil (p=0.036) and ampicillin (p=0.036). Type of infections between two groups: musculoskeletal infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sepsis were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Reduced number of isolates between two groups with decrease of ESBL-producing contribute in dynamics of antibiotics susceptibility. The longer period of analysis is needed to be done, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.