The frequency of ESBL producing bacterial infections and related antimicrobial susceptibility in ICU patients: A five-year longitudinal study ESBL producing bacterial infections in ICU

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of nosocomial infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria and related antimicrobial susceptibility in critically ill patients over a 5-year period. Material and Methods: The retrospective study was carried out in critically ill patients infected with ESBL-producing pathogens during intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Participants' medical data between 2014 and 2018 were included. ESBL-positive isolates from clinical specimens were evaluated by species and antibiotic susceptibility. Results: Ninety of 2456 critically ill patients had ESBL-positive bacterial infections. The mean age of the study sample was 58.7 +/- 19.1 years and 53.3% were males. ESBL-producing E. coli was noted in 60 (66.7%) patients, K. pneumoniae in 27 (30.0%) patients and K. oxytoca in 3 (3.3%) patients. Colistin (100%), meropenem (94.9%), imipenem (94.0%), and amikacin (90.0%) were active against >= 90% of ESBL-producing pathogens, while ertapenem (89.4%), fosfomycin (87.5%), tigecycline (80.0%) were active against >= 80% of pathogens in ICU. Susceptibility of ESBL producers was remarkably low against levofloxacin (30.8%) and ciprofloxacin (36.7%). The mortality rate of the sample was 25.5%. Discussion: Our findings revealed that ESBL-producing E. coli was highly responsible for ESBL-positive bacterial infections in ICU. The continued efficacy of colistin, carbapenems and amikacin against ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae was exhibited.