Increasing Incidence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Community Hospitals throughout the Southeastern United States

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016 Jan;37(1):49-54. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.239. Epub 2015 Oct 13.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) infections DESIGN Retrospective cohort SETTING Inpatient care at community hospitals PATIENTS All patients with ESBL-EC or ESBL-KP infections METHODS ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP infections from 26 community hospitals were prospectively entered into a centralized database from January 2009 to December 2014. RESULTS A total of 925 infections caused by ESBL-EC (10.5 infections per 100,000 patient days) and 463 infections caused by ESBL-KP (5.3 infections per 100,000 patient days) were identified during 8,791,243 patient days of surveillance. The incidence of ESBL-EC infections increased from 5.28 to 10.5 patients per 100,000 patient days during the study period (P=.006). The number of community hospitals with ESBL-EC infections increased from 17 (65%) in 2009 to 20 (77%) in 2014. The median ESBL-EC infection rates among individual hospitals with ≥1 ESBL-EC infection increased from 11.1 infections/100,000 patient days (range, 2.2-33.9 days) in 2009 to 22.1 infections per 100,000 patient days (range, 0.66-134 days) in 2014 (P=.05). The incidence of ESBL-KP infections remained constant over the study period (P=.14). Community-associated and healthcare-associated ESBL-EC infections trended upward (P=.006 and P=.02, respectively), while hospital-onset infections remained stable (P=.07). ESBL-EC infections were more common in females (54% vs 44%, P<.001) and Caucasians (50% vs 40%, P<.0001), and were more likely to be isolated from the urinary tract (61% vs 52%, P<.0001) than ESBL-KP infections. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ESBL-EC infection has increased in community hospitals throughout the southeastern United States, while the incidence of ESBL-KP infection has remained stable. Community- and healthcare-associated ESBL-EC infections are driving the upward trend. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;37(1):49-54.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Community / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Klebsiella / enzymology*
  • Klebsiella Infections / epidemiology*
  • Klebsiella Infections / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Southeastern United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult
  • beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis

Substances

  • beta-Lactamases