Comprehensive Microbiological and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Respiratory Pathogens | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Volume 34, Issue 3, July 2025, Pages 303-306 PDF (196.74 K) | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.368045.1518 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohammed K. S. Alquraishi* 1; Mohammed Q. Salih1; Ammar A. Rashid2; Mohammed A.M. Al-Hakeem1; Samah A. Hammood1; Mustafa H. AlFatlawi1 | ||
| 1Department of Pathological Analyses, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq | ||
| 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa , Najaf, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Respiratory tract infections RTIs represent a major global health concern, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries LMICs. The increasing burden of antimicrobial resistance AMR has further complicated the management of RTIs, limiting available treatment options and increasing healthcare costs. Smoking has been widely recognized as a significant risk factor for RTIs, compromising pulmonary immune defenses and promoting chronic colonization by multidrug-resistant MDR pathogens. However, limited data exist on the interplay between smoking and AMR trends in Iraq, a country experiencing rising antibiotic resistance rates due to unregulated antibiotic use and healthcare disruptions. Objectives: The aim of this study is to Identify and compare the microbial spectrum of respiratory pathogens in smokers and non-smokers with RTI, to analyze antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and assess resistance trends in both groups and to investigate the potential association between smoking and MDR bacterial infections. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hakeem Hospital, Najaf, Iraq, between May and July 2024. A total of 35 sputum samples were collected from hospitalized and outpatient individuals diagnosed with RTIs. Bacterial and fungal pathogens were identified using culture-based methods and the VITEK 2 automated system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing AST was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI 2024 guidelines. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and logistic regression models, were performed using SPSS v.25, with p-values <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus 20%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 17%, and Streptococcus pneumoniae 14%. MDR prevalence was significantly higher in smokers p = 0.14, though statistical significance was not achieved. Carbapenem resistance was observed in 100% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, indicating a major therapeutic challenge. Conclusion: Smokers exhibited significantly higher MDR prevalence, particularly for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Fluoroquinolone resistance was disproportionately higher in smokers, raising concerns about empirical antibiotic choices. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Antimicrobial resistance; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Staphylococcus aureus; VITEK 2 | ||
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