Antibiotic Resistance Trends Among Enterobacteriaceae in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern that poses a significant threat to the effective treatment of bacterial infections. Enterobacteriaceae, a family of gram-negative bacteria, are associated with a wide range of infections, including urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and respiratory tract infections. This systematic review aimed to examine the antibiotic resistance trend among Enterobacteriaceae in Saudi Arabia in the period between 2003 and 2023. Five databases (PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Scopus, and Cochrane) were searched using the keywords "Resistance AND Enterobacteriaceae AND Saudi Arabia" in the title and abstract. All papers assessing the prevalence of resistance among Enterobacteriaceae in Saudi Arabia were included in the systematic review. Out of 97 papers that were extracted through the database search, 22 articles were considered suitable for the systematic review. The articles included 17027 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, out of which 7592 isolates were identified as resistant bacteria. The studies included various resistant strains, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, that were responsible for various clinical conditions, including urinary tract infections, blood infections, surgical site infections, and pneumonia. In addition, the review highlighted the dynamic nature of antibiotic resistance, with the identification of new resistant bacterial species and the emergence of resistance to newer antibiotic classes over the last decade. Continued surveillance, rational antibiotic use, and the development of alternative treatment options are crucial to address the evolving landscape of antibiotic resistance among Enterobacteriaceae bacteria in the country.