Background and Aim :
Enterobacteriaceae spp. are fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, which, owing to their high durability, various virulence factors, and antibiotic-resistant mechanisms, are described as an eminent part of health treatments in hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of
Enterobacteriaceae spp. to characterize antibiotic susceptibility, and to explore the frequency of each genusMethods : In this cross-sectional study, over two years (۲۰۱۷-۲۰۱۹), clinical isolates were collected and
Enterobacteriaceae spp. were identified using the Analytical Profile Index (API ۲۰E) from two centers (main educational hospitals) in northeastern Iran. Isolates were confirmed by targeting the rpoB gene. Moreover, the susceptibility patterns of isolates were assessed using disc diffusion methods according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines.Results : : Out of ۲۶۴۵ clinical specimens, ۲۹۷ (۱۱.۲%; ۴.۹۶% and ۶.۲۸% belonging to Boali and Zareh hospitals)
Enterobacteriaceae spp. containing E. coli ۹۴ (۴۸.۹%), Citrobacter freundii ۶۵ (۲۱.۹%), Klebsiella pneumoniae ۴۸ (۱۶.۲%), Enterobacter spp. ۴۳ (۱۴.۵%), proteus spp. ۲۳ (۷.۷%), and ۲۵% of other spp. were identified. C. freundii ۶۵ (۳۷.۹۵%) and Enterobacter spp. ۳۳ (۱۹.۸۸%) more isolated than another bacterial specimen in Zareh hospital wards. E. coli ۶۸ (۵۱.۹%) and K. pneumoniae ۴۵ (۳۴.۳۵%) have higher rates of isolation in other hospitals as well. The frequency of isolate was higher in urine samples (۱۱۷, ۳۹.۴%) and wounds (۱۱۴, ۳۸.۴%) than other clinical specimens. Multidrug-resistance (MDR) strains are more isolated in the behavioral intensive care unit (BICU) than other wards as well. In Boali, ۶۵ (۴۹.۶۱%) isolates were screened as MDR isolates. This frequency at Zareh hospital was ۱۳۰ (۷۸.۳۱%). Amikacin (۸۱.۱%) has been shown to be an improper drug of choice for the isolates. Moreover, the lowest incidence of resistance among isolates was associated with nalidixic acid (۳۴.۳%).Conclusion : Considering the high isolation rates of MDR
Enterobacteriaceae spp., it is necessary to apply prevention criteria for the eradication of the mentioned bacteria from hospital wards.