Antibiotic use during coronavirus disease 2019 intensive care unit shape multidrug resistance bacteriuria: A Swedish longitudinal prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

High frequency of antimicrobial prescription and the nature of prolonged illness in COVID-19 increases risk for complicated bacteriuria and antibiotic resistance. We investigated risk factors for bacteriuria in the ICU and the correlation between antibiotic treatment and persistent bacteria.

Methods

We conducted a prospective longitudinal study with urine from indwelling catheters of 101 ICU patients from Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Samples were screened and isolates confirmed with MALDI-TOF and whole genome sequencing. Isolates were analyzed for AMR using broth microdilution. Clinical data were assessed for correlation with bacteriuria.

Results

Length of stay linearly correlated with bacteriuria (R² = 0.99, p ≤ 0.0001). 90% of patients received antibiotics, primarily the beta-lactams (76%) cefotaxime, piperacillin-tazobactam, and meropenem. We found high prevalence of Enterococcus (42%) being associated with increased cefotaxime prescription. Antibiotic-susceptible E. coli were found to cause bacteriuria despite concurrent antibiotic treatment when found in co-culture with Enterococcus.

Conclusion

Longer stays in ICUs increase the risk for bacteriuria in a predictable manner. Likely, high use of cefotaxime drives Enterococcus prevalence, which in turn permit co-colonizing Gram-negative bacteria. Our results suggest biofilms in urinary catheters as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria with the potential to develop and disseminate AMR.

SUBMITTER: Karlsson PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9941185 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature