Extended-Spectrum Beta Lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among the pediatric population: who is at risk and why?...

A prospective 18-month case-control study was performed in a tertiary Paediatric Centre in Turin (Italy) to analyse the disease burden and identify risk factors for acquisition of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-pE). Children with ESBL-pE isolation were enrolled as cases, with controls matched according to age, type of pathogen isolated and sample of isolation. Out of 83 children (37 males, mean age 4.7 ± 5.46 years), 45 were identified as infected (54.2%) and 38 as colonised (45.8%) by ESBL-pE. Twenty-nine (64.4%) infectious disease episodes were categorised as community-acquired, 16 (35.6%) as healthcare-associated. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen (52, 62.7%) and the urinary tract the most frequent site involved (26, 57.9%). No deaths occurred, even in bloodstream infection cases. Hospitalisation and exposure to broad-spectrum penicillins and III/IV generation cephalosporins in the 90-day period before bacteria isolation were found to be independent risk factors at multivariate analysis. Immunodepression, prolonged central venous catheter (CVC) and urine catheter stay, and receiving a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the previous 30 days were otherwise recognized as potential risk factors at univariated analysis. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections are a growing threat even in children. Careful recognition of patients at risk should promote targeted interventions in order to reduce the ESBL burden.