A Six Years' Trend Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Among Bacterial Isolates at Public Health Institute in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global threats to public health. This study determined trends in AMR from 2016 to 2021 in a regional research laboratory in Northwest Ethiopia. Data from 2016 to 2021 was extracted from a database. Bacterial identification and resistance tests were made using the standard microbiologic procedures. The results were described, trends in AMR were determined using polynomial regressions, and binary logistic regression at value < 0.05 was used. From 2016 to 2021, 25,143 specimens were sent for culture and susceptibility testing, among which 16,825 (66.9%) bacteria were isolated. About 12,528 (74.5%) isolates were gram-negative, and 4297 (25.5%) were gram-positive. (3783, 30.2%) and (3199, 25.5%) were the most common gram-negative bacteria, whereas coagulase-negative spp. (CoNS) (1765, 40.1%) and (1293, 30.1%) were the most common gram-positive bacteria. The overall prevalence of AMR was 2738 (59.9%), of which about 1807 (66.0%) accounted for gram-negative and 931 (34.0%) for gram-positive bacteria. (743, 80.2%), (196, 74.8%), and (213, 66.6%) were the most common resistant isolates among gram-negative bacteria, while CoNS (406, 58%), species (34, 50%), and (196, 37%) were from gram-positive bacteria. About 571 (20.9%) of bacteria were resistant to 2-10 drugs. The overall trend of AMR has been rising from year to year, reaching a peak in 2019 which was approximately 66% and then after has been predicted to decline. AMR in the regional laboratory is prevalent and has been increasing although the quadratic equation has revealed downward-opening parabola over time. A growing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria are an alarm to awaken policymakers and those concerned to intervene before it is too late. This calls for a periodic, integrated, and continuing system to monitor AMR for commonly used antibiotics.