Title: ESKAPE pathogens in the Indian subcontinent: A comprehensive analysis
Abstract:
ESKAPE pathogens are a group of antibiotic resistant gram positive and gram negative bacteria which are the causative agents for multiple nosocomial and community-acquired infections. ESKAPE refers to E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.; top priority pathogens as recommended by WHO which are posing a global threat to human health. Thus, the present study is focussed to consolidate the clinically relevant information on the ESKAPE and epidemiology of these pathogens throughout the Indian subcontinent. In addition to epidemiology, the study is focused on the antibiogram profiling of these pathogenic isolates, a crucial assessment for accurate and appropriate treatment strategies.
The epidemiological analysis of these pathogens was done using the data from the clinical sample reports collected via LIS Software in the duration of January 2020 to February 2021, from Microbiology Department of Central Laboratory at Dr. B. Lal Clinical Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. The analysis involved the demographic details of the sampling process as well as the rate of infectivity by these pathogens and their correlation to multiple essential parameters including gender, age, sampling type, temperature and humidity.
Similarly, the antibiogram profiling was performed to analyze the pathogenic isolates towards multiple antibiotics belonging to all the four generations. Antibiogram profiling of these clinical isolates were used to compare the susceptibility pattern and monitor the resistance trends over time within the isolates. Surprisingly, it was found that the majority of the isolates were sensitive to 1st generation antibiotics but showed resistance to 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation antibiotics.
Majority of the AMR analysis done so far has been in the developed economies with well planned medical facilities. Thus, the current study would be a case study for an economically weaker set up with compromised medical facilities. The current analysis would be useful to analyze the AMR situation caused by ESKAPE pathogens and would thus highlight the severity of the situation in order to plan appropriate preventive measures.
