Antimicrobial resistance among Haemophilus influenzae isolates responsible for lower respiratory tract infections in Poland, 2005–2019

Haemophilus influenzae is a human-specific pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and sepsis. The study aimed to characterize antibiotic resistance in H. influenzae strains isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections over 15 years in Poland. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clinically relevant antibiotics were determined by broth microdilution method. Screening for beta-lactam resistance was performed in all isolates following EUCAST recommendation. Finally, relevant changes in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) were detected by PCR screening. Of the 1481 isolates collected between 2005 and 2019, 12.6%, 0.2%, 17.1%, and 0.2% were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone, respectively. Among them, 74.4% (1102/1481) of isolates were categorized as BLNAS (β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-susceptible), 13.0% (192/1481) as BLNAS with modified PBP3 (mutations in fts I gene), 2.6% (39/1481) as BLNAR (β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-resistant), and 0.2% had PBP3 modifications typical for high-BLNAR. Production of β-lactamase characterized 9.7% of isolates (8.6% BLPAR-β-lactamase-positive, ampicillin-resistant, and 1.1% BLPACR-β-lactamase-positive, amoxicillin-clavulanate resistant). Three isolates with PBP3 modifications typical for high-BLNAR proved resistant to ceftriaxone (MIC > 0.125 mg/L). Resistance to ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed in 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.6%, and 24.7% of isolates, respectively. This is the first report of Polish H. influenzae isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Polish H. influenzae isolates demonstrate similar susceptibility trends as in many other countries. The substantial proportion of β-lactam-resistant isolates and the emergence of those resistant to third-generation cephalosporins are of great concern and should be under surveillance.