%0 Journal Article
%T Low-Level Antibiotic Resistance among <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Gram-Negative Pathogens from Infected Skin and Soft Tissues in Rural Kenya
%A Justin Nyasinga
%A Zubair Munshi
%A Lillian Musila
%A Ephantus Mbugua
%A Geoffrey Omuse
%A Gunturu Revathi
%J Open Journal of Medical Microbiology
%P 23-38
%@ 2165-3380
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojmm.2024.141003
%X <b><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;\">Introduction:</span></b><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;\"> Bacterial skin and
soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a cause of frequent inpatient and outpatient
care visits whose causative agents are associated with a high antimicrobial
resistance burden. For insights on antimicrobial susceptibilities in a rural
setting, we examined specimens from suspected SSTIs from two public health
facilities in Kenya. We additionally assessed antibiotic use, appropriateness
of empiric therapy and risk factors for SSTI. <b>Methodology:</b> Between 2021
and 2023, 265 patients at Kisii and Nyamira County Referral hospitals were
enrolled. Wound swabs/aspirates were collected and processed following standard
microbiological procedures. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility
were performed using the VITEK 2 Com<span>pact
platform. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were analyz</span>ed
with R Statistical software. <b>Results:</b> <i>S.</i> <i>aureus</i> was isolated in 16.2% (43/265) of patients with a
methicillin resistance (MRSA) proportion of 14% (6/43). While 13/15 drugs
elicited susceptibilities ranging from 84% - 100%, peni<span>cillin (16%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SXT] (23%) yielde</span>d
the lowest susceptibilities. <i>Escherichia</i> <i>coli</i> (n = 33), <i>Klebsiella</i> <i>pneumoniae</i> (n = 8), <i>Pseudomonas</i> <i>aeruginosa</i> (n = 8), and <i>Citrobacter</i> <i>species</i> (n = 4) were the most
commonly isolated gram-negative species. Gram-negative strains showed high
susceptibilities to most of the tested drugs (71% - 100%) with the<span> exception of ampicillin (18%), TMP-SXT (33%), and</span></span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;\">first and second generation cephalosporins. <b>Conclusions:</b> The low
MRSA prevalence and gener</span><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;\">ally h<span>igh antibiotic susceptibilities for <i>S.</i> <i>aureus</i> and gram-negative
bacteria pre</span>sent opportunities for antibiotic stewardship in the study
setting. Diminished susceptibilities against penicillin/ampicillin and TMP-SXT
accord with prevailing local data and add a layer of evidence for their
cautious empiric use.</span>
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K S. aureus&lt
%K /i&gt
%K MRSA
%K Gram-Negative Bacteria
%K Antimicrobial Resistance
%K SSTIs
%K Kenya
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=132109