Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns among Clinical Bacterial Isolates in Sulaymaniyah and Chamchamal, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

• Fakhriya Mohammed Kareem, College of Sciences, Medical Laboratory Analysis Dep., Charmo University, Chamchamal, Kurdistan Region, IraqFollow
• Sarwar Mohammed Rashid, College of Sciences, Medical Laboratory Analysis Dep., Charmo University, Chamchamal, Kurdistan Region, IraqFollow
• Bakhtiar Abdalla Rashid, Sulaymaniyah Health Directorate, Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal Central Laboratory, Chamchamal, Kurdistan, IraqFollow

Article Type

Article

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major worldwide public health challenge that compromises the proper treatment of infectious diseases, including in settings such as Sulaymaniyah and Chamchamal, Iraq. Continuous monitoring of bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles is necessary to guide suitable therapy and improve patient outcomes.
A cross-sectional study of 101 clinical specimens was conducted, and they were collected from patients attending public healthcare laboratories in Sulaymaniyah and Chamchamal, Iraq, between April and May 2025. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on the automated VITEK 2 Compact system in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyse data.
Among the 101 bacterial isolates, Gram-negative bacteria constituted 58% (n = 59), and Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 42% (n = 42). In general, 54.9% of isolates were susceptible to the antimicrobial agents tested, while 38.1% were resistant, and 7.0% had intermediate susceptibility. Urine specimens were the most common sample type, and 60% of the study population was female. Broad-spectrum antibiotics showed higher rates of resistance compared to narrow-spectrum antibiotics.
Considerable antimicrobial resistance was detected among clinical bacterial isolates in Sulaymaniyah and Chamchamal Laboratories. These results highlight the need for routine culture and susceptibility testing, continued surveillance of resistance patterns, and antimicrobial stewardship programmes to provide evidence-based antibiotic therapy and limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance, Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, VITEK 2, Clinical bacterial isolates

Recommended Citation

Kareem, Fakhriya Mohammed; Rashid, Sarwar Mohammed; and Rashid, Bakhtiar Abdalla (2026) "Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns among Clinical Bacterial Isolates in Sulaymaniyah and Chamchamal, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study," Muthanna Medical Journal: Vol. 13: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://muthmj.mu.edu.iq/journal/vol13/iss4/7

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.