THE INCREASE OF BACTERIAL RESISTANCE IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF A HOSPITAL IN WESTERN PARANÁ

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the bacterial resistance profile in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Western Paraná, assessing the prevalence of microorganisms and their variations over the period from 2021 to 2023. This is a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and retrospective study, based on the analysis of 349 patient records with bacterial colonization, containing complete data from cultures and antibiograms, collected using the Tazy software and organized in Microsoft Excel. The results showed that Klebsiella spp. was the most prevalent bacterium (46.7%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (20.9%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (6.6%). Variations in resistance patterns were observed, with peaks in 2021, possibly related to the high use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resistance to carbapenems was notable in K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii, while last-line agents such as colistin and vancomycin remained effective. It is concluded that bacterial resistance is a multifactorial phenomenon, requiring continuous monitoring, rational use of antimicrobials, and hospital control programs to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant strains in ICUs, ensuring therapeutic efficacy and patient safety.