Methodology and Early Results of the First Surveillance Program on Prevention and Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Isfahan, Iran: The IAS-I Study

Isfahan Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance System‑1 has been instituted in Isfahan, Iran to construct a project for surveillance of clinically significant bacteria, and to help raise a logic regional stewardship program for prevention and control of disseminating‑resistant organisms.

During March 2016 to March 2018, an antibiotic resistance surveillance system was designed and implemented by Isfahan Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center. The surveillance program was implemented in three general hospitals in Isfahan. In addition to the routine microbiology data, clinical data (differentiation between true infections and contamination, healthcare‑associated infections (HCAI) and community‑acquired infections (CAI), as well as determination of the infection site) were obtained and analyzed by WHONET software.

During a 2‑year period, from 7056 samples that revealed growth of bacteria, 3632 (51.5%) isolates were detected as contamination and 3424 (48.5%) true bacterial isolates were identified. Of these, about 32% of isolates were recognized as HCAI. Totally, the most recognized infections were urinary tract infection, bloodstream infection and skin and soft tissue infections. In patients with HCAIs, 70% of isolates were gram negative and in patients with CAIs 73% isolates were gram negative bacteria.

The strength of the project is gathering enough clinical information in addition to microbiologic data, which would increase application of the results for empiric treatment and prevention of the infectious diseases in clinical settings.