Increased Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli as an Adverse Effect of Excessive Antibiotic Use in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Serbia

One of the most important adverse consequences of antibiotic use is the development of bacterial resistance. This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli in a tertiary care hospital during 2013–2015 and 2024, together with trends in antibiotic consumption and the molecular characteristics of resistance genes in 2024 isolates. Identification and susceptibility testing were performed using the Vitek® 2 system, antibiotic consumption was assessed according to WHO ATC/DDD methodology, and resistance genes were detected by PCR. No significant differences were observed in the total number of isolates, patients, or the proportion of E. coli isolates during 2013–2015. However, the isolation rate of MDR E. coli significantly declined from 36.9% to 30%. Total antibiotic consumption remained stable, with no correlation between consumption and MDR isolation rates, although ampicillin resistance increased significantly. In 2024, MDR E. coli accounted for 24.3% of isolates despite lower antibiotic consumption. Compared with 2015, resistance significantly increased to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin, while ceftriaxone resistance decreased. The blaCTX-M gene was detected in 53% of bloodstream isolates, indicating widespread dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli and highlighting the need for continuous surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship.