RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and to monitor the trends of resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins among various species of enterobacteria in the region of Mahdia (Tunisia) from 2002 to 2014. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in the microbiology laboratory at Tahar Sfar Teaching Hospital in Mahdia. Data concerning a thirteen-year period (2002-2014). All clinical isolates of enterobacteriaceae were identified with the API 20 E system. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by disk diffusion on Mueller Hinton agar according to CA-SFM recommendations. RESULTS: During the study period, 25040 non-duplicate clinical strains of enterobacteriacae were identified. 2584 (10,3%) clinical isolates showed acquired resistance to third generation cephalosporins (3rdGC). The overall frequency of resistance increased from 8% in 2002 to 16,3% in 2014. This increase was statistically significant. High prevalence rates of 3rdGC resistance have been observed in pediatric (25,1%), in gynecologyobstetrics (21,9%) and medecine (17,4%). E. coli (21,6%), K. pneumoniae (28,6%) and E. cloacae (30,5%) showed high prevalence rates of broad-spectrum cephalosporin resistance. CONCLUSION: The resistance rates ERC3G in our region seems to be increasing. Implementation of infection control measures and identification of the mechanism responsible for third generation cephalosporins resistance are necessary to limit the spreading of these resistant enterobacteriaceae in hospitals and community settings.