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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Progress towards a coordinated, national paediatric antimicrobial resistance surveillance programme: Staphylococcus
Anita J Campbell1,2,3, Denise A Daley4,5, Jan M Bell6
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
Insights
Children exhibit distinct antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns compared to adults, with lower AMR rates but a disproportionate burden of Gram-negative resistance. Age-specific analysis is crucial for effective antimicrobial stewardship and development.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Limited nationally representative paediatric data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Growing knowledge of antimicrobial usage in children necessitates specific AMR surveillance.
- Paediatric data are essential for understanding AMR trends in younger populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore differences in bloodstream infections and AMR surveillance between children and adults.
- To present paediatric data from a national surveillance program.
- To compare AMR patterns in paediatric versus adult populations.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, coordinated AMR surveillance program (2013-2016).
- Inclusion of children (≤18 years) and adults (>18 years) with positive blood cultures.
- Comparative analysis of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., and Gram-negative spp. across 34 Australian hospitals.
Main Results:
- Significant contrasts in AMR, clinical, and molecular phenotypes between children and adults.
- Children demonstrated lower AMR rates and mortality.
- Children bore a disproportionate burden of Gram-negative resistance, with higher mortality risk from ESBL bacteraemia compared to adults.
Conclusions:
- Children are not 'little adults' in the AMR era; age-specific analyses are vital.
- Differences in antibiotic susceptibility, clinical phenotype, and virulence factors necessitate tailored approaches.
- Integrated antimicrobial surveillance informs guidelines, stewardship, and novel antimicrobial development.
Background:
There is increasing knowledge of antimicrobial usage in children yet limited availability of nationally representative paediatric-specific data on antimicrobial resistance.
Objectives:
Paediatric data from this national surveillance programme are presented to explore differences between childhood and adult bloodstream infections and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.
Methods:
Using information collected from a prospective coordinated antimicrobial resistance surveillance programme, children ≤18 years and adults >18 years with a positive blood culture for Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp. or Gram-negative spp. presenting to one of 34 Australian hospitals during 2013-16 were evaluated. Consistent methodologies for key sepsis pathogens were employed and a comparative analysis between children and adults was conducted.
Results:
There are stark contrasts between children and adults in this national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data set. Notable differences include lower rates of AMR, different clinical and molecular phenotypes and lower mortality amongst children. The burden of Gram-negative resistance is disproportionately experienced in children, with higher odds of death with an ESBL versus non-ESBL bacteraemia in comparison with adults.
Conclusions:
These data support that children are not just 'little adults' in the AMR era, and analyses by age group are important to detect differences in antibiotic susceptibility, clinical phenotype and genetic virulence factors. Antimicrobial surveillance incorporated into routine laboratory practice is vital to inform an array of wider applications including antimicrobial guidelines, stewardship and direction for prioritization of novel antimicrobial development.
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