IDENTICAL ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF CEFTRIAXONE AND CEFOTAXIME AMONG DIFFERENT BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to screen the antimicrobial-resistant profile of these 3rd generation cephalosporins and to identify their similarity and interchangeability. Method: This cross-sectional study, was conducted in all the government hospitals across the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The study started in November 2017 and continued till December 2022. All clinical samples such as wound swabs (pus), urine, sputum, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), stool, and others in which ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were examined at the same time were collected from hospitalized patients and outpatient clinic attendants. After the identification of the bacterial isolates, a standard disc diffusion technique for drug susceptibility tests was performed. This study was reviewed and approved by The Palestinian Helsinki Committee. Results: In the current study, 24,120 isolates in which ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were examined at the same time were studied. The predominant organisms isolated were, Escherichia coli 9,720 (40.3%), Klebsiella spp. 5,497 (22.8%), Pseudomonas spp. 2,630 (10.9%), and Staphylococcus aureus 1941 (8.0%). Bacterial isolates showed 57.1% and 57.8% resistance against ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, respectively. In this study, 22,404 (92.9%) bacterial isolates were with identical susceptibility test results to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. The highest match of susceptibility was seen in Acinetobacter spp. 97.3% (770/791), Klebsiella spp. 95.3% (5,241/5,491), and Escherichia coli 94.9% (9,220/9,720). In Staphylococcus aureus it was 90.6% (1,758/1,941). Conclusion: Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime can be interchangeable in most Enterobacteriaceae bacterial species. Ongoing surveillance of different bacterial antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance is strongly recommended together with the consideration of implementing antibiotics stewardship programs in all hospitals.