Susceptibility toward cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam in extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii detected from ICU admission screening in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2023

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a highly drug-resistant bacterium that poses a serious threat in hospitals, especially to patients in intensive care units (ICUs). This study examined CRAB bacteria found in ICU patients in Vietnam, focusing on their resistance to antibiotics, including new antibiotics such as cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam. The results showed that CRAB in Vietnam is resistant to almost all the antibiotics tested, making infections extremely difficult to treat. Alarmingly, some bacteria were resistant to cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam even in patients who had never received these drugs, suggesting that resistance is spreading quietly. This highlights the urgent need for ongoing surveillance, early detection, and careful use of antibiotics to prevent the spread of untreatable infections.