Seven-year surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in respiratory pathogens at a Ugandan referral hospital: Emerging trends and stewardship priorities

<b>What the study adds.</b> This study investigated the clinical and microbial characteristics of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in patients at a tertiary hospital in Uganda between 2018 and 2024. Key findings were a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms, particularly <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.<b>Implications of the findings.</b> The results underscore the need for routine microbial surveillance and antibiotic stewardship to guide empirical therapy and curb antimicrobial resistance, especially in RTIs.