Conditions & Treatments

Infections with multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) - What it is

Globally, we have seen an increase in infections with drug resistant microbes. Drug resistance mechanisms can occur naturally or it can be acquired. More often than not, drug resistance mechanisms in microbes is acquired and linked to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

Some examples of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) include the following:

Multidrug resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), multidrug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria which includes extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extreme drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pan drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Multidrug resistant fungus such as Candida auris

Apart from drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and tuberculosis which is often acquired from the community, infections with MDROs are much more common in the healthcare setting. These MDROs can affect any system of the body. Common types of MDRO infections include pnuemonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections associated with recent surgery / procedures, bloodstream infections and medical device associated infections.