Retrospective laboratory study reveals rising antimicrobial resistance burden in bloodstream ESKAPEEc isolates, highlighting the need for updated empiric therapy guidelines.
BACKGROUND: ESKAPEEc blood culture isolates are important indicators of invasive bacterial disease and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study examined 12-year AMR trends in Malaysia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective laboratory-based study analyzed de-identified blood culture records from a large private diagnostic laboratory network between January 2013 and December 2024. An Antimicrobial Resistance Index (ARI) was calculated for each deduplicated patient-year isolate, and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with high ARI (≥0.5). RESULTS: spp. and year 2024 were associated with high ARI. CONCLUSIONS: AMR burden increased, particularly in 2024, supporting stronger stewardship, surveillance, and updated empiric treatment guidance. Findings should be interpreted cautiously because changes in AST methods, breakpoints, test panels, referral patterns, and case mix could not be fully adjusted.
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Fatokun et al. (2026) studied this question.
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