Integrating Escherichia coli antimicrobial susceptibility data from multiple surveillance programs.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Global collaboration in antimicrobial resistance surveillance enhances analytical power and cross-validation.
• International networks like MYSTIC and SENTRY collect vital data on bacterial resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore temporal, geographic, and demographic trends in *Escherichia coli* resistance using combined international datasets.
• To assess the impact of different surveillance strategies on resistance estimates.

Main Methods:

• Multivariate analyses were performed on two large, international datasets (MYSTIC and SENTRY) from 1997 to 2001.
• Data exploration focused on *Escherichia coli* nonsusceptibility to various antimicrobial drugs.

Main Results:

• Elevated *E. coli* nonsusceptibility rates were observed in Latin America, southern Europe, and the western Pacific, contrasting with lower rates in North America.
• Nonsusceptibility was generally higher in men, older patients, and intensive care unit patients.
• Ciprofloxacin nonsusceptibility showed distinct trends, increasing with time and affecting younger patients, independent of ICU status.

Conclusions:

• Multivariate analysis reconciled differences between the MYSTIC and SENTRY datasets, supporting the epidemiologic relevance of combined findings.
• The study underscores the importance of international collaboration for understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance trends.