Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, with Romania being one of the countries most affected. This study examined bacterial infections in children over one year at the “Saint John” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children in Galati. A total of 9,910 pathological samples were examined. The most frequently identified bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among these, 25.4% of S. aureus strains were methicillin-resistant (MRSA), and many showed strong resistance to beta-lactam and macrolide antibiotics. E. coli infections were less responsive to aminopenicillins and cephalosporins, although resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was lower than national reports. These strains also showed relatively low resistance to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. On the other hand, Klebsiella species had higher rates of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides than those typically reported in Europe. While overall resistance levels were lower than in some national studies, they still exceeded European averages. Given that most patients were under nine years old, the high rates of resistance are particularly troubling. These findings highlight the need for urgent and ongoing efforts to monitor and manage antibiotic resistance in pediatric care.
