<![CDATA[Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global public health challenge, compromising patient safety and the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Medical instruments contaminated prior to sterilization may function as reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and facilitating the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance within healthcare environments. Despite the critical role of sterilization in interrupting microbial transmission, limited evidence is available regarding bacterial contamination and antimicrobial resistance profiles of medical instruments before sterilization. Characterizing these contaminants is essential for optimizing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures and supporting evidence-based Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programs. Therefore, this study aimed to identify bacterial contaminants on medical instruments prior to sterilization and to characterize their antimicrobial resistance profiles.]]>
