Increased Antimicrobial Consumption, Isolation Rate, and Resistance Profiles of Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Healthcare Institution

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the increase in total and MDR strains of KPN, ABA, and PAE and worsened their antibiotic resistance profiles. An increase in the consumption of both total and specific antibiotics was observed, mostly of fluoroquinolones and carbapenems. A positive correlation between the number of patients on MV and an increase in MDR KPN and MDR PAE strains was noted. It is necessary to adopt and demand the implementation of appropriate antimicrobial stewardship interventions to decrease the resistance of intrahospital pathogens to antibiotics.