First Report of Carbapenems Encoding Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria from a Pediatric Hospital in Gaza Strip, Palestine

The worldwide prevalence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), particularly related to extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases, poses significant global public health and clinical challenges. To characterize ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacilli, within a pediatric hospital in Gaza using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Our results showed a high prevalence of ESBL production among GNB isolated from a pediatric hospital in the Gaza Strip. Various antibiotic resistance genes were identified, including ESBL and carbapenem resistance genes.