Community-acquired febrile urinary tract infection caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in hospitalised infants

The Influence of Non-E. Coli or Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Bacterial Growth on the Follow-Up Procedure of Infants with the First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of non-E. coli or extended-spectrum β-lactamase-positive (ESBL-positive) microorganism growth in the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) of infants on laboratory findings or renal parenchymal damage presenting the severity of inflammation, anatomic abnormalities defined by imaging studies, and recurrent UTIs in the follow-up period.

METHODS

The data of patients aged between 2 and 24 mo and followed up for at least 6 mo with febrile UTI guideline of the authors' pediatric-nephrology clinic, were retrospectively analyzed. Ultrasonography was performed in all the cases at the time of UTI and dimercaptosuccinic-acid (DMSA) at least 4 mo after the infection. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) was performed only if ultrasonography findings were abnormal, the uptake deformity was detected in DMSA scan, or the patients experienced recurrent UTIs. The patients were grouped concerning E. coli or non-E. coli and ESBL-PB or non-ESBL-BP growth in the urine cultures.

RESULTS

There were 277 infants followed up for 28.55 ± 15.24 (6-86) mo. The causative microorganisms were non-E. coli in 73 (26.4%) and ESBL-PB in 58 (20.9%) cases. CRP values, pyuria, and leukocyte-esterase positivity were significantly higher in UTIs caused by E. coli compared to non-E. coli bacteria. All clinical and laboratory findings were similar between the ESBL-PB and non-ESBL groups, but abnormal ultrasonography findings were more common in non-E. coli group.

CONCLUSION

E. coli causes more severe inflammation, but non-E. coli infections are more frequently associated with ultrasound abnormalities. However, ESBL production did not affect either laboratory or radiological findings in the present cohort.

Trends in Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Isolates in a Taiwanese Child Cohort with Urinary Tract Infections between 2004 and 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the annual incidence of Escherichia coli isolates in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the antimicrobial resistance of the third-generation cephalosporin (3GCs) to E. coli, including the factors associated with the resistance in hospitalized children in Taiwan. A large electronic database of medical records combining hospital admission and microbiological data during 2004–2018 was used to study childhood UTIs in Taiwan. Annual incidence rate ratios (IRR) of E. coli in children with UTIs and its resistant rate to the 3GCs and other antibiotics were estimated by linear Poisson regression. Factors associated with E. coli resistance to 3GCs were assessed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. E. coli UTIs occurred in 10,756 unique individuals among 41,879 hospitalized children, with 92.58% being community associated based on urine culture results reported within four days after the hospitalization. The overall IRR E. coli UTI was 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99–1.02) in community-associated (CA) and 0.96 (0.90–1.02) in healthcare-associated infections. The trend in 3GCs against E. coli increased (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.24) over time in CA-UTIs. Complex chronic disease (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.04; 95% CI, 1.47–2.83) and antibiotics therapy ≤ 3 months prior (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.15–1.94) were associated with increased risk of 3GCs resistance to E. coli. The study results suggested little or no change in the trend of E. coli UTIs in Taiwanese youths over the past 15 years. Nevertheless, the increase in 3GCs-resistant E. coli was substantial. Interventions for children with complex chronic comorbidities and prior antibiotic treatment could be effective in reducing the incidence of 3GCs-resistant E. coli in CA-UTIs in this region and more generally.

Amoxicillin Increased Functional Pathway Genes and Beta-Lactam Resistance Genes by Pathogens Bloomed in Intestinal Microbiota Using a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem

Antibiotics are frequently used to treat bacterial infections; however, they affect not only the target pathogen but also commensal gut bacteria. They may cause the dysbiosis of human intestinal microbiota and consequent metabolic alterations, as well as the spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In vitro experiments by simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME) can clarify the direct effects of antibiotics on different regions of the human intestinal microbiota, allowing complex human microbiota to be stably maintained in the absence of host cells. However, there are very few articles added the antibiotics into this in vitro model to observe the effects of antibiotics on the human intestinal microbiota. To date, no studies have focused on the correlations between the bloomed pathogens caused by amoxicillin (AMX) exposure and increased functional pathway genes as well as ARGs. This study investigated the influence of 600 mg day-1 AMX on human intestinal microbiota using SHIME. The impact of AMX on the composition and function of the human intestinal microbiota was revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR. The results suggested that: (i) AMX treatment has tremendous influence on the overall taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of Klebsiella [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score = 5.26] and Bacteroides uniformis (LDA score = 4.75), as well as taxonomic diversity (Simpson, P = 0.067, T-test; Shannon, P = 0.061, T-test), and decreasing the members of Parabacteroides (LDA score = 4.18), Bifidobacterium (LDA score = 4.06), and Phascolarctobacterium (LDA score = 3.95); (ii) AMX exposure significantly enhanced the functional pathway genes and beta-lactam resistance genes, and the bloomed pathogens were strongly correlated with the metabolic and immune system diseases gene numbers (R = 0.98, P < 0.001) or bl2_len and bl2be_shv2 abundance (R = 0.94, P < 0.001); (iii) the changes caused by AMX were "SHIME-compartment" different with more significant alteration in ascending colon, and the effects were permanent, which could not be restored after 2-week AMX discontinuance. Overall results demonstrated negative side-effects of AMX, which should be considered for AMX prescription.

Risk factors for gentamicin-resistant E. coli in children with community-acquired urinary tract infection

According to many guidelines, gentamicin is the empirical parenteral treatment for children with community-acquired urinary tract infection (CA-UTI). However, increasing resistance rates are reported. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for presenting with a UTI caused by a community-acquired gentamicin-resistant Escherichia coli in children in our hospital and to describe their clinical outcome. A retrospective case-control local study was performed in a tertiary care hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. Cases and controls were children below 14 years old diagnosed in the Emergency Department with febrile CA-UTI caused by gentamicin-resistant and gentamicin-susceptible febrile E. coli strains, respectively. During the study period, 54 cases were included and compared with 98 controls. Patients with chronic conditions were more likely to present with a UTI due to gentamicin-resistant E. coli (OR 3.27; 95% CI 1.37-7.8, p < 0.05), as well as children receiving antibiotic prophylaxis (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.2-10.1, p < 0.05). Cases had longer hospital stays than controls (5.8 ± 5 days vs. 4.4 ± 4 days, p = 0.017). Gentamicin-resistant strains associated higher rates of cefuroxime (29% vs. 3%), cefotaxime (27% vs. 0%), and quinolone resistance (40.7% vs. 6%) (p < 0.01) and produced more frequently extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) (20% vs. 0%, p < 0.01) and carbapenemases (7.4% vs. 0%; p = 0.015). All gentamicin-resistant strains were amikacin-sensitive. The presence of chronic conditions and antibiotic prophylaxis could be potential risk factors for gentamicin-resistant E. coli CA-UTI in children. Simultaneous resistance to cephalosporins, quinolones, and ESBL/carbapenemase production is frequent in these strains.

Fosfomycin in the pediatric setting: Evidence and potential indications

To date, there has been little experience in using fosfomycin in children. However, its broad spectrum of action and excellent safety profile have renewed interest in this antibiotic, especially for treating infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The main indication for fosfomycin in pediatrics is currently community-acquired lower urinary tract infection. Given its good activity against bacteria, fosfomycin can also be useful in urinary infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing enterobacteria. Fosfomycin presents very good dissemination to tissues including bone and is therefore an option in the combined therapy of osteomyelitis, especially in cases produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or in cases with beta-lactam allergies. Fosfomycin can also be employed in combination for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia (especially carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria), S. aureus (if there is a high suspicion of MRSA or complicated infections) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. Other infections in which fosfomycin could be part of a combined therapy include staphylococcal endocarditis (in case of beta-lactam allergy or MRSA), central nervous system infections (mainly by MRSA, S. epidermidis, Listeria and resistant pneumococcus), nosocomial pneumonia and infections associated with mechanical ventilation.