Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Children at Damascus Hospital

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is the third top-ranking global causative of death. Aims: : The aim is to evaluate antimicrobial resistance and sensitivity to aid the assessment of the efficacy in Syrian management protocols. Methods: : A retrospective study was conducted to analyze children with positive culture results presenting with nosocomial or community-acquired infections in Damascus Hospital, Damascus, Syria. Results: : 117 patients with 183 positive culture results were included in the study. The most antibiotic-resistant bacterium was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest bacterial antibiotic resistance occurred with Ceftriaxone, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (89%), Escherichia coli (77%), Enterobacter (74%), and Proteus (42%). Staphylococcus sensitivity towards vancomycin was only 3%. The mortality was 19(16%), nosocomial infection 11(55%) and community infections 9(45%). Conclusion: The efficacy of the remaining antibiotics to which the bacteria are sensitive must be maintained through rationalization of its use. Strict precautionary measures must be implemented to ban the illegal dispensation of antibiotics.