Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria caused less than 5% of urinary tract infections in a paediatric emergency centre

Antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infections in children

Urinary tract infections are the most frequently proven bacterial infections in pediatrics. The treatment options proposed in this guide are based on recommendations published by the Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse de Pédiatrique (GPIP-SFP). Except in rare situations (newborns, neutropenia, sepsis), a positive urine dipstick for leukocytes and/or nitrites should precede a urine culture examination and any antibiotic therapy. After rising steadily between 2000 and 2012, the proportion of Escherichia coli strains resistant to extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (E-ESBL) has remained stable over the last ten years (between 7% and 10% in pediatrics). However, in many cases no oral antibiotic is active on E-ESBL leading either to prolonged parenteral treatment, or to use of a non-orthodox combination such as cefixime + clavulanate. With the aim of avoiding penem antibiotics and encouraging outpatient management, this guide favors initial treatment of febrile urinary tract infections (suspected or actual E-ESBL infection), with amikacin. Amikacin remains active against the majority of E-ESBL strains. It could be prescribed as monotherapy for patients in pediatric emergency departments or otherwise hospitalized patients.

Emergence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Pathogens in Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections Among Infants at a Pediatric Emergency Department

BACKGROUND

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens are common among adults and are associated with extended and multiple hospitalizations. They cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) among children with known risk factors such as urinary tract abnormalities and antimicrobial prophylaxis. The emergence of UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms among infants has not been well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to describe the incidence and current clinical management of infants who were diagnosed with UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms at a pediatric emergency department (ED). In addition, we sought to describe risk factors associated with inpatient hospitalization for UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified infants who were treated in the ED from 2013 to 2017 and who had positive urinalyses and urine cultures positive for greater than 50,000 colony-forming unit per milliliter of a single ESBL-producing urinary pathogen. We abstracted details of clinical management and known previous risk factors, including prior neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization stay, prior UTI caused by an ESBL-producing organism, and known urologic abnormalities.

RESULTS

Forty-five UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms occurred in 43 patients (mean age of 5.9 months and 59% female)-ESBL Escherichia coli represented the majority (42/45). The incidence of UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms ranged from 0.9% to 4.5% during the 5-year study period. The 13 patients (26%) admitted from the ED were significantly younger than discharged patients (1.9 vs 6.7 months, P = 0.016) and more likely to have had prior neonatal intensive care unit hospitalizations (50% vs 15.6%, P = 0.0456). Of the 33 visits (77%) resulting in initial outpatient management, 5 were followed by readmission for parenteral antibiotic treatment. Of those who were readmitted, 40% (n = 2) were afebrile at the time of admission. The remainder (28/33) completed outpatient oral antibiotic courses guided by susceptibilities. Two patients (4%) had negative repeat urine cultures despite in vitro resistance to initial antibiotic coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

Extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing organisms are an increasing cause of UTIs in infants presenting at a pediatric ED, and outpatient management may be reasonable for infants older than 2 months.

From Pathophysiological Hypotheses to Case-Control Study Design: Resistance from Antibiotic Exposure in Community-Onset Infections

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern, at least partly due to the misuse of antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections in the community has shifted at-risk populations into the general population. Numerous case-control studies attempt to better understand the link between antibiotic use and antibiotic-resistant community-onset infections. We review the designs of such studies, focusing on community-onset bloodstream and urinary tract infections. We highlight their methodological heterogeneity in the key points related to the antibiotic exposure, the population and design. We show the impact of this heterogeneity on study results, through the example of extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae. Finally, we emphasize the need for the greater standardization of such studies and discuss how the definition of a pathophysiological hypothesis specific to the bacteria-resistance pair studied is an important prerequisite to clarify the design of future studies.

Prospective Cohort Study Investigating the Safety and Efficacy of Ambulatory Treatment With Oral Cefuroxime-Axetil in Febrile Children With Urinary Tract Infection

Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of ambulatory oral cefuroxime-axetil treatment in children presenting with first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in terms of resolution of fever, antibiotics tolerance, bacterial resistance, and loss to ambulatory follow-up. Methods: Two-year prospective single-center evaluation of the local protocol of oral ambulatory treatment of children presenting first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Results: From October 2013 to October 2015, 82 children were treated ambulatory with oral cefuroxime-axetil. The median age was 8 months. When analyzing those 82 children treated orally, 51 (62%) completed oral treatment, 14 (17%) missed their scheduled follow-up visits (3 patients at day 2 and 11 patients at week 2), and 17 (21%) were switched to IV therapy for the following reasons: vomiting in 9, persistent fever in 5, antibiotic resistance in 2 and bacteremia in 1. Six children (8%) presented recurrent UTI after a median of 5 months of follow-up. Conclusions: This 2-year evaluation suggests that oral treatment with cefuroxime-axetil in febrile UTI is feasible but should be implemented with caution. Home-treated children require reevaluation during treatment since 21% of our cohort had to be temporarily switched to parenteral therapy and 17% did not attend scheduled follow-up visits during oral treatment.

Risk factors for infection and/or colonisation with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria in the neonatal intensive care unit: a meta-analysis

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are an important cause of healthcare-associated infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify risk factors associated with infection and/or colonisation with ESBL-producing bacteria in the NICU. Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published from 1 January 2000 to 1 July 2016. The literature was screened and data were extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Z-test was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) of the risk factors. ORs and their 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the significance of the risk. A total of 14 studies, including 746 cases and 1257 controls, were identified. Thirteen risk factors were determined to be related to infection and/or colonisation with ESBL-producing bacteria in the NICU: birthweight [standardised mean difference (SMD) = 1.17]; gestational age (SMD = 1.36); Caesarean delivery (OR = 1.76); parenteral nutrition (OR = 7.51); length of stay in the NICU (SMD = 0.72); mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.8); central venous catheter use (OR = 2.85); continuous positive airway pressure (OR = 5.0); endotracheal intubation (OR = 2.82); malformations (OR = 2.89); previous antibiotic use (OR = 6.72); ampicillin/gentamicin (OR = 2.31); and cephalosporins (OR = 6.0). This study identified risk factors for infection and/or colonisation with ESBL-producing bacteria in the NICU, which may provide a theoretical basis for preventive measures and targeted interventions.