PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF COLISTIN-RESISTANT PSEUDOMONASAERUGINOSA IN UTTAR PRADESH INTENSIVE CARE UNITS: A MULTI-CENTER CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: The rising incidence of colistin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) presents a serious risk among critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The present study was a cross-sectional study that sought to establish the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and risk factors among patients with CRPA infections in tertiary care hospitals in Uttar Pradesh. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 12 ICUs (6 governmental and 6 private hospitals) in Uttar Pradesh between January 2024 and September 2024. Clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from all clinical specimens were screened for colistin resistance by broth microdilution method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, and risk factors for patients with CRPA were analyzed by logistic regression methods. Results: Out of 847 P. aeruginosa isolates, 156 (18.4%) were colistin-resistant. ICUs of government hospitals showed higher prevalence (22.1%) compared to private hospitals (14.7%) (p<0.05). Respiratory samples demonstrated the highest resistance rates (21.3%). ICU stay for more than 14 days, prior exposure to colistin, mechanical ventilation, and central venous catheter were the risk factors. Conclusion: CRPA is alarmingly high in Uttar Pradesh ICUs and necessitates prompt implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and infection control strategies to limit further resistance development.