Impact of COVID-19 on the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria associated with nosocomial infections in the state of Puebla, Mexico

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading threats to public health worldwide. This phenomenon, accelerated by the irrational use of antibiotics, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the city of Puebla, Mexico, the lack of a comprehensive analysis of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on AMR in public hospitals justifies this study. The objective was to analyze this impact by comparing the pre-pandemic situation (2015-2020) with the post-pandemic situation (2022-2025). A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as reports from official organizations such as the RHOVE and PRUCA. Studies that reported data on multidrug-resistant bacteria and nosocomial infections in public hospitals in the region were selected. The findings revealed that pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were already prevalent before the pandemic. However, during the pandemic, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients accelerated the presence of multidrug-resistant strains in hospitals in the region. Post-pandemic data show that these pathogens have established themselves as a persistent threat. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated AMR in Puebla, highlighting the urgent need to implement surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programs to provide more appropriate treatments and reduce associated morbidity and mortality.