December 2023 Volume 9 Issue 4

MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL

ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS: A 15-YEAR REVIEW (2010– 2026)

Nashra Afaq,R. Sujatha

  • Pages: 1-8
    • <p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global health threat over the past decades, largely driven by inappropriate antibiotic use. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been widely implemented since 2010 to optimize antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, and curb resistance. This review evaluates the evolution, implementation strategies, and outcomes of ASPs over the past 15 years (2010 &ndash;2026). A structured literature review was conducted using major databases, focusing on clinical outcomes, antibiotic consumption, resistance patterns, and healthcare costs. Evidence consistently demonstrates that ASPs significantly reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, decrease resistance rates, lower healthcare costs, and improve patient safety. Despite notable success, challenges persist in low-resource settings, outpatient care, and global standardization. Strengthening multidisciplinary approaches, digital integration, and global policy frameworks is essential for the future of stewardship programs.</p>

Enterococcus Species in Urinary Tract Infections: A Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, and Antimicrobial Resistance Trends in Clinical Practice

Nashra Afaq, R. Sujatha

  • Pages: 1-11
    • <p>Enterococcus species have emerged as significant pathogens in urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in hospitalized patients, elderly individuals, pregnant women, diabetics, and those with long-term catheterization. Over the last two decades, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium have demonstrated increasing antimicrobial resistance, including high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), posing major therapeutic challenges. This comprehensive review synthesizes global evidence on prevalence, virulence factors, risk groups, diagnostic methods, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Enterococcus species associated with UTIs. Literature from 1995&ndash;2024 was analysed using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Findings indicate that Enterococcus faecalis remains the predominant species, although E. faecium is increasingly isolated and exhibits higher drug resistance rates. Resistance to ampicillin, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides is rising, while susceptibility to linezolid, teicoplanin, and daptomycin generally remains high. The review highlights the global burden, clinical relevance, and therapeutic challenges posed by multidrug-resistant Enterococcus species. Significant variation exists across regions due to differences in antimicrobial practices and hospital infection control policies. Strengthening diagnostic accuracy, antibiotic stewardship, and infection prevention strategies is essential to combat the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant Enterococcus-associated UTIs.</p>

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Clinical Isolates at a Tertiary Care Centre: A Prospective Study

R. Sujatha, Nashra Afaq

  • Pages: 1-8

Clinical Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Study of 50 Cases with Low Multidrug Resistance

Nashra Afaq,R. Sujatha

  • Pages: 1-7
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