Resistance Trend, Antibiotic Utilization and Mortality in Patients with E. coli Bacteraemia

Incidence of bacteraemia and driving concerns about antibiotic resistance is increasing globally. Risk factors for developing antimicrobial resistance are antibiotic overuse, incorrect dosing and extended duration of administration.

This study was conducted to examine the prescription and susceptibility pattern of antibiotics in bacteraemia patients with ESBL producing and Non-ESBL-producing E. coli and their correlation with mortality.

Data were collected from medical records of the patients aged 18 years and above, diagnosed with E. coli bacteremia from January 2013 through July 2017. Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained before the study (IEC 483/2017). Cumulative sensitivity/resistance pattern of isolated microorganisms and DDD/100 bed days of prescribed antibiotics were obtained.

182 cases of E. coli bacteraemia were reviewed. 59.9% (n = 109) were male with an age range of 20-90 years. The mortality rate was 24.9% (n = 44). 55.5% (n = 101) of the isolated organisms were ESBL-producing. A high percentage of resistance to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were observed among the patients, and most of the identified isolates were sensitive to the aminoglycosides, carbapenems and β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLBLIs).

Frequent utilisation of the high-end antibiotics and increase in microorganism's resistance to different antibiotics can lead to a worrisome level. Local antibiotic resistance data and consumption policy are essential to prevent and slow down this process. We observed a descending resistance trend for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination in our setting to both the ESBL producing and non-producing.