High rates of antibiotic resistant infection represent an increasing challenge in healthcare for southern Italy, especially in women over 70 years old, according to a recent study published in Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Adv Pharm Bull; doi: 10.34172/apb.025.45467). The paper, published on October 11, 2025, provides an in-depth analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles in the region, offering clinically and epidemiologically relevant data from an area that remains underrepresented in national and international surveillance systems. Authored by Ruga et al., the study helps to fill a critical knowledge gap at a time when antimicrobial resistance represents an escalating public health threat.
The study, in collaboration with Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) and working with researchers in Italy, further reinforces the One Health framework put forth by Italian health agencies, contributing meaningfully to national and international efforts to address one of the most serious global public health challenges.
The research was conducted at the Foggia Local Health Authority (ASL Foggia) by a research group led by Dr. Renato Lombardi, the University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia,” and researchers at other universities in Italy. Framed within a One Health perspective, the study takes into account the interconnectedness of human health, microbial ecology, and public health policies.
The investigation is based on a retrospective evaluation of 146 antibiograms collected between 2022 and 2023 from patients aged 36 to 101 years, analyzed at the microbiology laboratory of a hospital facility in Manfredonia. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which together accounted for the majority of the clinical infections observed.
Bacterial infections with resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are consistent with evidence linking increased antibiotic exposure and more frequent healthcare utilization among elderly women to higher resistance rates. The findings underscore the importance of systematically incorporating age- and gender-specific considerations into antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Although molecular characterization of the bacterial isolates was not feasible due to the retrospective and diagnostic nature of the samples analyzed, the resistance profiles observed are consistent with regional and national surveillance data. This suggests the circulation of well-established resistance mechanisms and potentially high-risk bacterial clones. In this context, the study confirms the clinical and operational value of routine phenotypic surveillance based on microbiological data, particularly in settings where access to advanced molecular diagnostics is limited.
Overall, this work provides robust evidence to inform public health policies, supporting the strengthening of local AMR surveillance systems, the optimization of antimicrobial stewardship strategies, and the planning of future multicenter studies integrating molecular analyses.
The Sbarro Health Research Organization conducts groundbreaking research in cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the campus of Temple University, SHRO’s programs train young scientists from around the globe, accelerating the pace of health research and innovation.
Reference:
1. https://apb.tbzmed.ac.ir/Article/apb-45467
(Newswise/ARC)
