Evaluation of high-level aminoglycoside resistance of enterococcal isolates in blood cultures at Makerere University clinical microbiology laboratory between 2017 to 2020

Abstract

Background: Resistance to aminoglycoside has been of great concern, since it eliminates the synergy of aminoglycosides with beta lactam antibiotics, which is the therapy of choice for most of enterococcal infection which can limit the therapeutic options for clinicians. Although enterococci are not virulent as other gram-positive bacteria, they are multidrug resistant which restricts the clinician’s options for treatment of the enterococcal infections. According the WHO report the potential of antimicrobial resistance to lead to higher mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries like Uganda maybe greater as a result of higher burden of bacterial infection, limited capacity and lower access to second line antibiotics. Aim: To determine the frequency, trends of antibiotic resistance and level of HLAR among enterococci on all blood cultures at MUCML. Methodology: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study on evaluation of high-level aminoglycoside resistance of enterococcal isolates in blood culture at MUCML between January 2017 and December 2020.