Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility patterns across two adult age groups: a public health-oriented study of Staphylococcus aureus in Kakheti region, Georgia

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global health issue, with resistant infections causing over 1.27 million deaths annually. Regional variations and age-dependent trends further complicate management of this problem. Staphylococcus aureus plays a significant role in both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections, raising serious concerns due to its increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Materials and methods: The aim of this study was to determine the age-stratified prevalence of resistance to ceftriaxone, a widely prescribed antibiotics in Georgia, and also: cefazolin, cefepime, gentamicin, erythromycin, in S. aureus isolates from the Kakheti region. A cohort study design was employed, and 80 participants (divided into two age groups: 19–40 and 41–60 years, with 40 participants in each group) were involved in the study. Nasal swabs were collected, cultivated, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility by the disk diffusion method. Additional data, including antibiotic usage history, sex, and other demographic factors, were analyzed to identify possible correlations. Results: The findings revealed differences in the resistance patterns between the age groups. The 19–40 age group showed 90% resistance to ceftriaxone compared to 45% in the 41–60 age group. Resistance trends for other antibiotics followed a similar pattern. Unexpectedly, both groups exhibited 100% resistance to cefepime despite its limited use in the Kakheti region. Conclusion: This study highlights the interdependence of age, regional factors, and antibiotic resistance in S. aureus . These public health-oriented findings emphasize the need for age-specific antibiotic stewardship programs to combat antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic effectiveness in the Kakheti region, while also promoting public awareness about antimicrobial resistance.