Multidrug resistant bacteria and associated risk factors of external ocular infections at University of Gondar tertiary hospital in Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are an escalating global public health concern and represent a cross-cutting issue affecting multiple sectors. In ophthalmic care, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents are frequently prescribed empirically by healthcare professionals, often without culture-based evidence. This practice contributes to the development of drug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, routine surveillance of bacterial profiles and multidrug resistance in external ocular infections is crucial for effective treatment, prevention, and control efforts. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistance among bacterial isolates from external ocular infections and to identify associated risk factors. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 external ocular infection suspected patients between May 1 and July 30, 2023, at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital’s Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center. Systematic random sampling was employed to recruit participants. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires. Ocular specimens were collected aseptically and processed using standard microbiological techniques according to CLSI. Data were entered into EpiData version 25 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the risk factors, with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 360 patients participated in the study. Results Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 59.7% (215/360) of the external ocular infection samples. Gram-positive bacteria were the most frequently identified, comprising 46.7% (168/222) of isolates. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (43.7%, 97/222), followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (29.7%, 66/222), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.8%, 24/222), and Escherichia coli (5.4%, 12/222). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 21.6%. Overall, multidrug resistance was observed in 62.2% (138/222) of the isolates. Notably, dental infections were significantly associated with the presence of bacterial external ocular infections. Conclusions This study highlights a high prevalence of bacterial and multidrug-resistant organisms in external ocular infections. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin are effective antimicrobial agents against the isolated pathogens. These findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring of bacterial profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to support evidence-based antibiotic use and mitigate the rise of antimicrobial resistance in ocular infections.