Work

Insights into antibiotic resistance and prevalence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolated from clinical samples in Iran: A systematic review

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: Infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ( S. maltophilia ) are particularly difficult to treat because of their intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotics. The main aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of infections caused by this bacterium across different provinces of Iran. Additionally, the study assessed the resistance rates of commonly prescribed antibiotics to address existing gaps in therapeutic knowledge. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify relevant original research articles published in English between 2000 and 2024, using Google Scholar, Medline (via PubMed), Embase, and Web of Science. Following screening, all studies reporting antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of S. maltophilia from Iran were included and analyzed. A total of 1415 clinical isolates were collected from 16 regions across Iran. Most isolates showed high susceptibility to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and minocycline (98.5% and 98.2%, respectively). Among the genes associated with biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, sul1 and spgM were the most prevalent (12.4% and 39.6%, respectively). Given the low resistance rates to levofloxacin and minocycline, these antibiotics may be considered as potentially effective options for treating S. maltophilia infections in Iran. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole showed comparatively higher resistance rates, suggesting that its clinical efficacy may be declining. The rising isolation of S. maltophilia from clinical specimens in recent years, compared to the previous decade, is of both epidemiological and clinical concern, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and prudent antibiotic use.

Source: New Microbes and New Infections

DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2025.101664