Third-generation cephalosporins are a class of b-lactam antibiotics that are often used for the treatment of human infections caused by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to detect the pattern of bacterial antibiotic sensitivity to the third generation of cephalosporins that assist doctors with appropriate empirical therapy. For the study purposes, various bacteria were isolated clinically from urine, high vaginal swab (cervical swab), ear and wound samples during the period from November 2019 to March 2020 at Al-Shomali general hospital, Babil, Iraq, and a private laboratory in Babil city. A total of 154 patients were involved in this study, samples were processed at the hospital laboratory during this period, diagnosis and antibiotic sensitivity test having been done by routine bacteriological diagnosis, as well as by VITEK 2 system. Three common third-generation cephalosporins: cefotaxime, Cefotazidime, and ceftriaxone were evaluated. Out of these 154 samples, 46 (30%) had bacterial growth. Specimens with bacterial growth were taken from urine, cervical swab, ear discharge and wound infection, the counts being 24, 8, 8, and 6, respectively. All 46 isolated bacteria were 100% resistant to cefotaxime and Cefotazidime, while 36 (78%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. The prevalence of bacterial isolation in different specimens showed a high predominance of Enterococcus spp. 16 (35%) from the total samples. The current study revealed that the increasing burden of bacterial resistance to the third-generation cephalosporins, especially to cefotaxime and Cefotazidime, may be due to misuse and inappropriate high administration of these drugs. This should be countered by early detection of development the third-generation resistance in patients by a restricted clinical monitoring and through judicious use of antibiotics. Of note, the highest rate of resistance was observed in the age groups less than 15 years old.
Al-Khikani et al. (Thu,) studied this question.