Unveiling the Threat: A Closer Look at ESKAPE Pathogens Through Clinical Surveillance in Hospitals

Background: The ESKAPE bacteria, which include Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp., are well known for their role in nosocomial infections and multidrug resistance. It is important to monitor their prevalence and resistance patterns. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of the ESKAPE bacteria isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital in Odisha, India. This study is novel in that it is the first of its kind to provide region-specific data using conventional and automated methods of bacterial identification, providing critical information on the alarming resistance patterns of these bacteria in one of the most vulnerable healthcare settings. Methodology: A prospective study of 500 culture-proven bacterial isolates was obtained from a tertiary care center from January to December 2023. The bacterial cultures obtained were of the following sample types: urine, blood culture, tracheal asp., wound swab culture, pus culture, vaginal swab culture, and oral swab culture. The conventional method of identification, confirmation of the species, and testing the sensitivity of the bacteria to antibiotics was performed with the automated VITEK 2 system. Descriptive methods were used for the study. Results: From these 500 isolates, 451 (90.2%) isolates were found to be ESKAPE bacteria. Among these, Klebsiella pneumonia was 28.8%, Staphylococcus aureus was 16.8%, and 15.2% was found to be Pseudomonas aerogenes. This result also showed a high resistance rate to carbapenems, specifically in Enterobacter aerogenes, which was 88% and 73% in K. pneumonia. MRSA resistance was also found to be 51% in S. aureus, and vancomycin resistance was found 7.1% in E. faecium isolates. Conclusion: The study stated the danger posed by ESKAPE bacteria and also stated the importance of continuous surveillance and identification to ensure the continued efficacy of available antibiotics.