Barw Barw Medical Journal 2960-1959 2024 08 11 Changing Face of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Cross-Sectional Study 10.58742/bmj.v2i3.117 eng Rawezh Salih Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. rawizh.mohammed94@gmail.com Berun A. Abdalla Biology Department, College of Education, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. berun.anwer95@gmail.com Ayman M. Mustafa Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. aymanmajid75@gmail.com Khanda A. Anwar Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. khanda.anwar7@univsul.edu.iq Abdullah Dler Ahmad Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. abdullah.dler@gmail.com Wafa A. Hamadameen Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Wafa.a.mangury@gmail.com Hidayat Anwar yaseen Laboratory Department, Shar Hospital, Malik Mahmood, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. hidayat45@gmail.com Hawnaz S. Abdullah Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. hawnazsalh364@gmail.com Shnya Hawre Ahmed Medical Laboratory Science Department, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. shnya.ahmed@gmail.com Rivan O. Salim Laboratory Department, Technical Institute of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. rivan.saleem@gmail.com Awara K. Hama Rashid Chemistry Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. awara.rashid@gmail.com Goran M. Salih Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. goran.salih@gmail.com Noor Khalid Mohammed Scientific Affairs Department, Smart Health Tower, Madam Mitterrand Street, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. noor.mohammed@gmail.com Niga Haji Qadir Chemistry Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. niga.adir@gmail.com Dlsoz M. Hussein Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. dlsoz.hussein@gmail.com 2024 07 10 Introduction Infections of sterile body fluids are significant contributors to mortality and morbidity. Accurate species-level identification and understanding of the antimicrobial resistance profiles are crucial for selecting appropriate antimicrobials for empirical and targeted therapy. This study aims to examine the distribution of various bacterial species and their evolved antimicrobial resistance profiles isolated from different body fluids. Methods This retrospective study evaluated 301 body fluid samples collected at a tertiary hospital between January 2023 and December 2023. Samples were gram-stained and cultured on an appropriate media. Bacterial identification and susceptibility testing were performed using the BD Phoenix™ system, with disk diffusion method used for antibiotics not available in the system. Results Microbial growth was detected in 151 cases (50.2%), with a comparable prevalence among males and females (53.0% vs. 46.7%). The mean age was 49.81± 24.1 years. Growth rates were slightly higher in hospital-acquired infections (55.7%) than in community-acquired infections (49.2%). Cerebrospinal fluid showed the highest growth rate at 34.3%. Among the isolates, Streptococcus species were the most common (14.6%), while Escherichia coli was the predominant Gram-negative bacterium (13.2%). Sensitivity was highest with tigecycline (100%) and meropenem (92%), whereas resistance was most notable against ampicillin-sulbactam (100%) and azithromycin (95.2%). Multidrug resistance was identified in 106 isolates (70.2%). Conclusion High antibiotic resistance and multidrug-resistant strains underscore the need for rigorous antibiotic stewardship and improved infection control to address untreatable infections.