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E. coli antimicrobial resistance increased faster in geriatric outpatients
Geriatric outpatients have a greater increased risk for urinary Escherichia coli resistance than adult outpatients in the United States, new research suggests.
The study included 6,412,025 adults aged 16 to 64 years and 3,395,297 geriatric outpatients aged 65 years or older. Researchers analyzed antimicrobial susceptibility test results for all participants from 2000 to 2010 to compare trends of urinary E. coli isolates from adults and geriatric outpatients to commonly prescribed oral agents.
Researchers found significant increases (P<.001) in resistance in both age groups from all antimicrobial agents except tetracycline, which showed a 1.6% decline in adult participants only.
According to researchers, increases in antimicrobial resistance were seen for ciprofloxacin (9.4%, adult outpatients; 23.5%, geriatric outpatients), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (4.3% and 10.5%), ampicillin (2% and 13.6%), nitrofurantoin (0.3% and 1.3%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (0.6% and 1.9%) and ceftriaxone (1.6% and 3.4%).
Researchers said the results show that E. coli antimicrobial resistance in the USA from 2000 to 2010 increased faster among geriatric patients then outpatients.
“In order to decrease the long-term impact of the increasing resistance shown in our study, it is critical to support the development of novel antimicrobial agents and decrease antimicrobial misuse by promoting evidence-based prescribing practices and infection prevention efforts,” researchers said.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.