Antibiotic Resistance and Mortality in ICU Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of First Culture Growth Results

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the antibiotic resistance patterns of microorganisms isolated from intensive care unit (ICU) patients and evaluate their impact on mortality and length of ICU stay. Given the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in critically ill patients, understanding their resistance profiles is crucial for optimizing empirical antibiotic therapy and improving patient outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study included 237 ICU patients admitted between 1 July 2022, and 1 January 2024. The initial culture growth results from blood and urine samples were analyzed. Microorganism identification was performed using VITEK 2 Compact and conventional bacteriological methods, while antibiotic susceptibility testing followed CLSI 2022 and EUCAST 2022 guidelines. RESULTS: = 0.02), further emphasizing the impact of prolonged hospitalization on adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: further worsen patient outcomes, highlighting the need for early infection control strategies and optimized empirical antibiotic selection. Biomarkers such as procalcitonin and CRP, alongside clinical severity scores, serve as valuable prognostic tools for ICU mortality.