Antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors of bacterial species among cancer patients

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most significant challenges of the 20-s century, and the misuse of antibiotics is a driver of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of multidrug resistance, and detection of its produce virulence factors, including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESβLs), biofilm, and siderophores produced by bacterial species isolated from cancer patients. One hundred and seventy-five Gram-negative bacterial isolates were isolated from different samples collected from cancer patients admitted to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo, Egypt, and processed by standard microbiological methods. One hundred and forty-three bacterial isolates were recovered from adult patients, and 32 were recovered from children. Escherichia coli showed the highest frequency (36%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (30.85%), Acinetobacter baummannii (14.28%), and Pseudomonas sp. (9.14%). Antibiotic profiles revealed that bacterial isolates are highly resistant to the most commonly available antibiotics. Amikacin and gentamicin were the most effective antibiotics against isolated Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the vast majority of bacterial stains produce virulence factors, including EsβLs, biofilm, and siderophores. E. coli isolates produced ESβLs with rates of 25.28%, Klebsiella pneumonia (11.0%), and Pseudomonas sp. (25.0%). Among these collected bacterial isolates, 132 (75.4%) have the ability to form a biofilm to different degrees. Also, the majority of the bacteria isolates generated siderophores, with 133 (75.94%). This study revealed that a significant distribution of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria may increase the burden on healthcare to prevent infections in cancer patients.