Prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates in sputum samples with respiratory infections from Indonesian patients

Objective Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have become a pressing global health issue due to increasing antibiotic resistance in clinical settings. This study aimed to identify and analyze the patterns of MDR bacterial isolates from sputum samples of patients with respiratory infections in Indonesia. Methods A retrospective laboratory-based study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2023 at RSUD dr. Adiyatma, MPH, Semarang. A total of 485 sputum samples from patients with respiratory infections were cultured. Bacterial isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using standard microbiological methods. Results Among the 485 bacterial isolates, 76.5% were Gram-negative and 23.5% were Gram-positive MDR bacteria. The most prevalent MDR bacteria were Acinetobacter spp. (26.2%), Pseudomonas spp. (20.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.3%), and Staphylococcus spp. (15.5%). Isolates from male patients were more likely to be MDR than those from female patients (OR = 0.623; p = 0.036). In addition, Gram-positive bacterial isolates were significantly more likely to exhibit MDR compared with Gram-negative isolates (OR = 2.247; p = 0.009). Conclusion A high prevalence of MDR bacteria was observed in sputum samples from patients with respiratory infections in Indonesia. These findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened antibiotic stewardship programs and continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.