Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2228-5881 15 4 2025 11 15 The Phenomenon of Antimicrobial Resistance in Southern Italy: An Overview of the Current Situation 871 882 10.34172/apb.025.45467 EN Stefano Ruga https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0401-4027 Raffaele Petti Mara Masullo Fabio Castagna Roberto Bava Michelangelo Armenise Elisabetta Labbate Carmen Lombardi Antonio Giordano Massimiliano Quintiliani Luigi Alfano Emilia Langella https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6628-2459 Giovanna Liguori https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3031-345X Renato Lombardi https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7759-2141 Journal Article 10.34172/apb.025.45467 2025 04 07 2025 09 25 Purpose: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health challenge with region-specific implications. This study investigated AMR prevalence in Southern Italy, with particular attention to demographic variables such as gender and age. Methods: A retrospective analysis of antibiograms from 146 patients (68 males and 78 females, aged 36–101 years) collected between 2022 and 2023 was conducted. Given the retrospective design and reliance on routinely collected clinical data from a local hospital microbiology laboratory, molecular analyses were not feasible, as isolates were processed solely for diagnostic purposes and not preserved. Results: The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (52.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.9%), Enterococcus faecalis (6.9%), Proteus mirabilis (6.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (4.6%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.3%). In males, the highest resistance rates were recorded for ciprofloxacin (47.9%), levofloxacin (47.2%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (40.5%). Female patients showed greater resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, with women≥70 years displaying particularly elevated resistance compared with age-matched men and younger females. Conclusion: Despite the absence of molecular data, phenotypic surveillance through antibiograms remains a critical tool for monitoring AMR trends in underrepresented regions. Incorporating gender-specific differences into clinical practice may improve therapeutic efficacy and stewardship strategies. These findings provide a foundation for future molecular and epidemiological investigations.