BMC infectious diseases
Antimicrobial resistance and documented empirical antibiotic prescribing among cancer patients with culture-confirmed infections at a tertiary referral hospital in Rwanda, 2019-2024
By Asuman BN, Dukundane D, Kreuger MJ and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens infection management in cancer patients, yet data from sub-Saharan African oncology settings are scarce. We described the microbiology, resistance patterns and documented empirical prescribing among cancer patients with culture-confirmed infection in Rwanda.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective, records-based study of 297 culture-confirmed infection episodes in 286 cancer patients at King Faisal Hospital, Kigali, from 2019 to 2024. Routine susceptibility results were interpreted with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints in use at the time. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was classified with the organism-specific definitions of Magiorakos et al., which covered 232 of 254 bacterial isolates. Factors associated with MDR were examined by modified Poisson regression (adjusted prevalence ratios, aPR) with sensitivity analyses. Empirical regimens documented in the electronic medical record (EMR; 105 episodes, 100 inpatient) were compared with the WHO AWaRe framework and the 2022 Rwanda Standard Treatment Guidelines.