Emerging threat of WHO priority pathogens in ICU-associated CLABSI and CAUTI: an integrated analysis of resistance patterns, epidemiological trends, and stewardship strategies.

PURPOSE: To unmask the alarming prevalence, intricate antimicrobial resistance patterns, and consequential clinical outcomes of World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens causing device-associated infections in critical care settings - a frontier analysis of silent pandemic threatening modern healthcare.

METHODS

This groundbreaking retrospective study analysed data from 5,398 patients at risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and 15,416 patients for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) spanning 2021-2024. Microbial isolates were categorized according to WHO's priority pathogen classifications. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were comprehensively analysed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, with statistical analyses elucidating pathogen distribution dynamics, resistance mechanisms, and mortality correlations.

RESULTS

Striking findings revealed WHO priority pathogens dominated the microbial landscape, constituting 76.47% of CLABSI and 82.14% of CAUTI isolates - with critical priority organisms overwhelmingly predominant (83.34% and 91.3%, respectively). Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) emerged as the formidable leading threat (39.5% of CLABSI, 72.7% of CAUTI), while Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) demonstrated exceptional virulence with devastating mortality (93.33%). The study unveiled unprecedented levels of multidrug resistance, with most therapeutic options rendered ineffective; only colistin maintained universal efficacy against gram-negative isolates despite its concerning toxicity profile. Dramatic disparities in infection outcomes revealed CLABSI-associated mortality rates (71.79%) significantly eclipsed CAUTI (39.13%), establishing infection type as a critical independent predictor of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

This landmark investigation exposes the crossroad between WHO priority pathogens and healthcare-associated infections, sounding an urgent alarm for global healthcare systems. Our findings provide crucial evidence-based guidance for recalibrating therapeutic approaches, optimizing antimicrobial selection, and prioritizing infection control measures in intensive care settings worldwide.