Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns at FMIC Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global issue, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and rising healthcare costs. In Afghanistan, alarming levels of AMR continue to be driven by self-medication, overuse of antibiotics, and inadequate awareness among patients and healthcare providers. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of AMR at the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, and compare them with the global landscape of AMR. Blood, urine, and purulent samples were collected from 6,709 patients at FMIC hospital, including infants, children, and adults. The disk diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and data analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM, Armonk, New York, USA) software. The majority of participants were adults (45.8%) and female. The largest proportion of positive samples came from male patients, and urine cultures yielded the highest number of positive results. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated microorganism, with resistance found in 51.2% of patients, followed by Staphylococcus aureus with resistance levels of 26.37%. Amikacin was the most frequently used antibiotic, while amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the least effective. Levels of E. coli resistance were seven-to-eight times higher than in Europe, highlighting the urgent need for improved antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures in Afghanistan. The findings provide valuable information on the prevalence of microorganisms in clinical samples and their susceptibility to various antibiotics in Kabul, contributing to the development of effective strategies to combat both locally and globally.