Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Virol. Mar 25, 2025; 14(1): 100501
Published online Mar 25, 2025. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v14.i1.100501
Unveiling the impact: COVID-19's influence on bacterial resistance in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Safiya K Almusawi, Noor A Albalooshi, Mohammed Al-Beltagi
Nermin K Saeed, Safiya K Almusawi, Noor A Albalooshi, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, ‎Governmental Hospitals, Manama 12, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Safiya K Almusawi, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland–Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatric, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Algharbia, Bahrain
Author contributions: Saeed NK conceived the study and supervised the entire research process, including the study's design and the interpretation of the results, and contributed to revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content; Almusawi SK was involved in acquiring data and played a key role in analyzing the laboratory results and organizing the data collection process, and contributed to revising the manuscript; Albalooshi NA contributed to the interpretation of the findings and ensured the accuracy of the clinical context in the manuscript, revised the manuscript and provided feedback on the final draft; Al-Beltagi M wrote the manuscript, performed the statistical analyses, and was responsible for revising it, communicated with the authors and journal reviewers, ensuring the manuscript met submission requirements; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Institutional review board statement: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain, on April 2024. Given the retrospective nature of the study and the use of de-identified patient data, the requirement for informed consent was waived by the IRB.
Informed consent statement: This retrospective study did not involve the direct collection of patient data or the identification of individual patients. As such, the Institutional Review Board of Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain, waived informed consent in accordance with institutional guidelines and ethical standards.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. No financial, personal, or professional interests influenced this manuscript's research, authorship, or publication.
Data sharing statement: The data supporting this study's findings are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author, Al-Beltagi M. However, the data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: August 18, 2024
Revised: October 22, 2024
Accepted: November 15, 2024
Published online: March 25, 2025
Processing time: 101 Days and 16.7 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat, and understanding local trends in bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns is crucial for effective infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced additional complexities, potentially influencing these patterns.

AIM

To analyze trends in bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex from 2018 to 2023, with a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of microbiological data was conducted, covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The study included key bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, among others. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed using standard laboratory methods. To contextualize the findings, the findings were compared with similar studies from other regions, including China, India, Romania, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and United States.

RESULTS

The study revealed fluctuating trends in the prevalence of bacterial isolates, with notable changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a significant increase in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was observed during the pandemic years, while the prevalence of E. coli showed a more variable pattern. Antibiotic resistance rates varied among the different pathogens, with a concerning rise in resistance to commonly used antibiotics, particularly among Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli. Additionally, the study identified an alarming increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, especially within Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli isolates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends was evident, with shifts in the frequency, resistance patterns, and the emergence of MDR bacteria among several key pathogens.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and effective anti-microbial stewardship programs to combat the evolving threat of antibiotic resistance. Further research and policy initiatives are required to address the identified challenges and improve patient outcomes in the face of these ongoing challenges.

Keywords: Multidrug-resistant organisms; Antibiotic susceptibility; COVID-19 pandemic; Antimicrobial stewardship; Bacterial isolates; Salmaniya Medical Complex; Bahrain

Core Tip: This study highlights the critical role of continuous surveillance in tracking bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The findings underscore the need for robust antimicrobial stewardship programs to address the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. Regularly updated treatment protocols, informed by local epidemiological data, are essential for optimizing therapeutic strategies. The collaboration between microbiology laboratories and clinical teams is vital for timely diagnostics, which guide effective antimicrobial therapy. This study provides valuable insights that can inform healthcare practices and contribute to global efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance.