Distribution of gram-negative bacteria in lower respiratory tract infections and their susceptibility patterns to beta-lactam antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- 2Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Abstract
Background and Objectives:: Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. The aimd of this study was to identify the distribution of Gram-negative bacteria responsible for lower respiratory tract infections and to assess their susceptibility profiles to beta-lactam antibiotics in the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods:: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from WHONET 2022, drawing on a database of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from lower respiratory tract specimens processed at the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, during the period of 2018–2021. Susceptibility to ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam was assessed. Comparisons between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were conducted using the chi-square test.
Results:: A total of 569 samples were analyzed, comprising 383 samples from the pre-pandemic period (2018–2019) and 186 samples from the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2021). Twenty-nine Gram-negative bacterial species were identified before the pandemic, compared with 19 species during the COVID-19 pandemic. Klebsiella pneumoniae emerged as the most common pathogen, with a prevalance of 30.29% before and 27.96% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the resistance patterns of Acinetobacter baumannii to cefepime (p= 0.036), ceftazidime (p= 0.018), and piperacillin-tazobactam (p= 0.002). Conversely, no significant differences were observed for K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:: K. Pneumoniae remains the predominant Gram-negative pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections, whereas A. baumannii shows an increased disease burden and resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the importance of continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.
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BibTeX
@article{tjampakasari2026distribution,
title = {{Distribution of gram-negative bacteria in lower respiratory tract infections and their susceptibility patterns to beta-lactam antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic}},
author = {Conny Riana Tjampakasari and Reyhan Afif Sucahyo and Dimas Seto Prasetyo},
journal = {Iranian Journal of Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22863},
url = {https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22863},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Distribution of gram-negative bacteria in lower respiratory tract infections and their susceptibility patterns to beta-lactam antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Conny Riana Tjampakasari
AU - Reyhan Afif Sucahyo
AU - Dimas Seto Prasetyo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Iranian Journal of Microbiology
DO - 10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22863
UR - https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v18i5.22863
AB - Background and Objectives:: Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. The aimd of this study was to identify the distribution of Gram-negative bacteria responsible for lower respiratory tract infections and to assess their susceptibility profiles to beta-lactam antibiotics in the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods:: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from WHONET 2022, drawing on a database of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from lower respiratory tract specimens processed at the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, during the period of 2018–2021. Susceptibility to ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam was assessed. Comparisons between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were conducted using the chi-square test. Results:: A total of 569 samples were analyzed, comprising 383 samples from the pre-pandemic period (2018–2019) and 186 samples from the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2021). Twenty-nine Gram-negative bacterial species were identified before the pandemic, compared with 19 species during the COVID-19 pandemic. Klebsiella pneumoniae emerged as the most common pathogen, with a prevalance of 30.29% before and 27.96% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the resistance patterns of Acinetobacter baumannii to cefepime (p= 0.036), ceftazidime (p= 0.018), and piperacillin-tazobactam (p= 0.002). Conversely, no significant differences were observed for K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p > 0.05). Conclusion:: K. Pneumoniae remains the predominant Gram-negative pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections, whereas A. baumannii shows an increased disease burden and resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the importance of continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.
SN - 2008-3289
SN - 2008-4447
ER -