Zahra Norouzi Bazgir - Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Bahman Mirzaei - Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari, Iran; Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Mohammad Reza Haghshenas - Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari, Iran.
Hamid Reza Goli - Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari, Iran.
Ebrahim Shafaie - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

Background: Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Citrobacter freundii (C. freundii) as a causative agent of nosocomial infections is a health threat, especially in hospitals. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MDR C. freundii, considering isolation sites and a variety of utilized antibiotics. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the clinical samples of C. freundii strains were collected and screened using traditional bacteriological tests in Zareh Hospital, Sari City, Iran, during ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷. We used disk diffusion methods to assess the susceptibility patterns of isolates according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Out of ۳۲۴۸ clinical samples, C. freundii strains were detected in ۱۰۹ samples (۳۲.۱% females and ۶۷.۹% males). Susceptibility tests indicated that ۸۹ isolates (۸۱.۶۵%) were MDR strains. Frequencies of MDR C. freundii strains were higher in the Behavioral Intensive Care Unit (BICU) (۳۷.۶۱%) and restoration ward (۲۹.۳۵%) compared with other hospital wards. Conclusion: Considering the MDR C. freundii strains detected from burn hospital wards, it is necessary to implement prevention criteria for their eradication from burn hospitals. The results indicate the urgent need to design more practical methods for controlling infection in hospital wards.

Multi drug- resistant, extensively- drug resistant Citrobacter freundii, Susceptibility testing, hospital acquired infections, Burn Hospital Wards.