Emergency Department Urinary Antibiograms Differ by Specific Patient Group

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) see diverse patients with varying risks for resistant pathogens.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, necessitating effective empirical treatment.
• Understanding pathogen susceptibility is crucial for optimizing antibiotic selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient group-specific urinary antibiograms for *Escherichia coli* in the ED.
• To identify differences in *E. coli* susceptibility based on patient demographics and origin.
• To inform empirical UTI therapy selection in the ED.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 500 adult patients diagnosed with UTI in the ED.
• Comparison of *E. coli* urinary antibiograms across various patient subgroups.
• Data extracted included demographics, laboratory results, and clinical data.

Main Results:

• *E. coli* was found in 56% of positive urine cultures.
• Overall susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and cefazolin were below 71%.
• Significant differences in susceptibility were observed based on patient origin (SNF vs. home), age, sex, and admission status.

Conclusions:

• Patient group-specific urinary antibiograms demonstrate distinct *E. coli* susceptibility patterns.
• Tailored antibiograms are essential for improving empirical UTI treatment strategies in the ED.
• Nitrofurantoin exhibited high susceptibility across all studied groups.