Quinupristin/Dalfopristin Resistance in Gram-Positive Pathogens: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Palestine
Supervisor Name
Adham Abu Taha
Supervisor Email
aabutaha@najah.edu
University
An-Najah National University
Research field
Medical Sciences
Bio
Professor Adham S. Abu Taha, PhD Professor of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Adham S. Abu Taha is a Full Professor of Biomedical Sciences with extensive expertise in pharmacology, clinical laboratory sciences, and antimicrobial resistance. He has a distinguished academic and research career, with numerous publications in reputable international journals. In addition to his teaching and research roles, Professor Abu Taha serves as Director of the Medical Laboratory Department at An-Najah National University Hospital in Nablus, Palestine. He oversees both Central Laboratory Services (including Hematology, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Blood Bank) and Specialized Diagnostic Pathology (covering Anatomic Pathophysiology, Flow Cytometry, and Molecular Diagnostics). His leadership and commitment to advancing biomedical education and clinical practice have made him a respected figure in the medical and scientific community, both locally and regionally.
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Gram-positive pathogens such as MRSA, MRCoNS, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) poses a significant challenge to effective treatment. Quinupristin/Dalfopristin (Q/D) is a key antibiotic combination used for resistant Gram-positive infections. However, emerging resistance to Q/D threatens patient outcomes, increases healthcare costs, and complicates infection management. Current local data on Q/D resistance in Palestine are limited. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and patterns of Quinupristin/Dalfopristin resistance among Gram-positive cocci isolated from clinical samples at An-Najah National University Hospital (NNUH) between 2019 and 2024. Specific Objectives: Identify the prevalence of Gram-positive cocci isolates from clinical samples. Assess their antimicrobial resistance, focusing on Q/D. Compare resistance rates among different bacterial species. Analyze trends in resistance over the study period. Study Design and Setting: A retrospective study conducted at NNUH, a tertiary care hospital in Nablus, Palestine, including all relevant Gram-positive isolates collected from January 2019 to December 2024. Population: Patients whose clinical samples tested positive for Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Included: Patients with relevant Gram-positive isolates from blood, urine, sputum, or other samples during the study period. Excluded: Gram-negative isolates, non-target Gram-positive bacteria, and samples outside the study period. Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS v21. Categorical variables will be expressed as frequencies/percentages, and continuous variables as means ± SD or medians. Statistical tests include chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Significance is set at p < 0.05. Ethical Considerations: IRB approval was obtained from An-Najah National University. Patient privacy will be maintained via anonymization and secure data handling. Timeline: Data collection, processing, and analysis: 2 months Report writing and finalization: 1 month Significance: This study will provide essential local data on Q/D resistance, guiding antimicrobial stewardship and optimizing treatment strategies for Gram-positive infections in Palestine.
