Inass Kawtharan |Molecular Epidemiology of Different Bacterial Pathogens

Inass Kawtharani Lebanese University, Lebanon Title:Molecular Epidemiology of Different Bacterial Pathogens And Its Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Among Patients Suffering From Surgical Site Infections In Lebanon: A Multi-Central Study Abstract: Background: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) remain a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens. These infections are increasingly challenging to treat due to widespread antimicrobial resistance and pose a serious public health threat. In particular, the identification of resistance genes in SSI causing pathogens highlights the evolving genetic mechanisms that undermine antibiotic efficacy. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of bacterial pathogens responsible for SSIs in Lebanon and their risk factor, assess their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and identify the presence and distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes among multidrug-resistant isolates. Materials and Methods: This multi-center prospective study was conducted between January 2024 and February 2025 in seven Lebanese hospitals. Patients who developed SSIs following surgical procedures were enrolled. Clinical samples were collected via swabs or tissue from infected sites and subjected to standard microbiological techniques for bacterial isolation and identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Additionally, real-time PCR was used to detect key resistance genes in multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from patient medical records and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Out of 7433 surgical patients across seven Lebanese hospitals, the prevalence of surgical site infections was 1.35%. Significant risk factors for SSI included advanced age, emergency surgeries, ICU admission, prolonged operative time , extended hospitalization , and contaminated or dirty wounds. Comorbidities such as diabetes (70.3%), cancer, renal failure, and obesity were also strongly associated with increased SSI rates. The majority of SSIs (87.7%) occurred after discharge, mainly within 5–20 days postoperatively, and 62% were superficial. Microbiologically, Gram-negative bacteria predominated (75%), with E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae being the most common pathogens. High levels of multidrug resistance (MDR) were observed (62.7% in Gram-negative and 72% in Gram-positive isolates). Resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins was widespread, while carbapenems, tigecycline, and fosfomycin remained effective. Among Gram-positive organisms, 75% of S. aureus isolates were MRSA. Molecular screening detected the mecA gene in 100% of MRSA and 77.8% of MRCoNS, while blaCTX-M was highly prevalent in E. coli (90.9%) and K. pneumoniae (100%). The blaNDM gene was detected in 34.2% of Gram-negative isolates, particularly A. baumannii and E. cloacae, highlighting the presence of carbapenem-resistant strains. Conclusion: The study reveals a low SSI prevalence across Lebanese hospitals but highlights a concerning burden of multidrug-resistant pathogens, particularly among Gram-negative isolates. The high detection rates of mecA, blaCTX-M and blaNDM genes underscore the urgent need for targeted infection control measures, routine molecular surveillance, and optimized antibiotic stewardship to curb the spread of resistant organisms in surgical settings. #Nursing #NursingEducation #Healthcare #ClinicalPractice #PatientCare #MedicalResearch #NursingConference #Nurse #HealthcareInnovation #InnovincConferences #scientificconference