Epidemiology of Multidrug Resistant Non-Fermentative Gram Negative Bacilli in Patients with Hospital Acquired Pneumonia: An Alarming Report from Somalia

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of data concerning hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) due to multidrug resistant non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli (MDR-NFGNB) in Somalia, and this study will aim to analyze the epidemiology of MDR-NFGNB among HAP patients in tertiary care hospital in Somalia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study which evaluated the presence of MDR-NFGNB among 2003 HAP patients between June 2017 and May 2022 in a tertiary care hospital in Somalia. NFGNB were cultured on blood agar and eosin methylene blue agar and were then used BBL crystal system and oxidase biochemical assays for identification. Antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance were assessed using Mueller–Hinton agar. RESULTS: A total of 160 confirmed cases of HAP due to NFGNB were examined. Among these, 114 (71%) were males compared to females (n = 46, 29%). The mean age was 49.49 ± 21.48. The overall prevalence rate of NFGNB among patients with HAP was 8%. It was more common in older patients and in patients with co-morbidities. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common NFGNB with n = 93 (58%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 55, 34%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 12, 8%). Regarding the antimicrobial sensitivity rate, Acinetobacter baumannii showed an overall resistance level of 82%, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (81%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (62%). The rate of CR-NFGNB in our study was 79.4%. We found that 68.1% of NFGNB was multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. MDR patterns were more common in Acinetobacter baumannii infections (84%). MDR pathogens were strongly associated with ICU admissions (95% CI, 0.202–0.800, OR, 0.402, p value <0.009). Finally, the mortality rate of HAP caused by NFGNB in our study was 42.5%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NFGNB in HAP patients was 8%. These infections were more prevalent among men and the elderly. Acinetobacter baumannii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia exhibited the highest antibiotic resistance rate. The MDR level of these pathogens was 68.1%.