Bacterial culture use, etiology and antibiotic susceptibility of common bacterial infections in Indonesian hospitals in 2019

ObjectivesTo describe the use of bacterial cultures, and the etiology and antibiotic susceptibility of common high-priority bacteria isolated from hospitalized patients in Jakarta, Indonesia. MethodsWe conducted a hospital-wide cross-sectional study of all inpatients receiving systemic antibiotic treatment (WHO ATC J01) in six hospitals in 2019, capturing routine data on antibiotic treatment and cultures. We reported bug-drug combinations for Escherichia coli and the ESKAPE group of bacteria. Results562 patients (52% women, median age 46 years) had 587 diagnoses, with pneumonia (258, 44%) most common. One or more culture specimens were taken in 38% (215/562) overall, a sputum culture in 25% (64/258) of pneumonia patients; and a blood culture in 52% (16/31) of sepsis patients. 50% of positive blood culture results were reported after 4 days. From 670 culture specimens, 279 bacteria were isolated, 214 (77%) were Gram-negative, including Klebsiella pneumoniae (70, 25%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (36, 13%), and E. coli (21, 11%). Resistance included third-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae (77%), E. coli (65%) and Enterobacter spp (81%); carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (26%), P. aeruginosa (24%), E. coli (33%), Acinetobacter spp (57%), and Enterobacter spp (60%); and meticillin-resistant S. aureus (71%). Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (0%) and Enterococcus faecalis (12%) were uncommon. Multi-drug resistance was 30% for K. pneumoniae, 29% for P. aeruginosa, 49% for E. coli, 42% for Acinetobacter spp, and 71% for S. aureus. ConclusionsIn Indonesian hospitals, bacterial cultures were underused and antibiotic resistance is at alarming levels. Enhanced context-specific infection prevention, diagnostic and antibiotic stewardship interventions are urgently needed.