Impact on public health and economic loss in the spread of resistant strains of Enterobacter spp.

According to an article published in the January issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the distribution of strains resistant to third generation cephalosporins (CS III) of Enterobacter spp. harms public health and involves significant economic costs. The study was conducted by a team of scientists led by Dr. Sara E. Cosgrove (John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, United States).

Mortality, length of hospital stay and hospital stay were estimated in a patient cohort, which was selected from 477 patients with Enterobacter spp. Strains sensitive to CS III. In 46 patients, Enterobacter spp. Resistant to third generation cephalosporins were then isolated. The control group consisted of 113 patients, strains isolated from Enterobacter spp. who remained sensitive to CS III.

A multi-level analysis showed that in the first group of patients, the mortality was higher than in the second (26% vs 13%, p = 0.06). The mean length of hospital stay was also significantly longer in patients in the experimental group than in the control group (29.5 days vs 19 days, p less than 0.001). The treatment costs of patients in the first group were higher ($ 79,323 vs $ 40,406 p less than 0.001). The emergence of resistant strains led to an extension of the hospitalization period by 9 days and, consequently, increased costs by $ 29,379.

About 10% to 20% of Enterobacter spp. resistance develops after the use of cephalosporins, so clinicians must decide for the treatment of which patients it is really advisable to prescribe CS as first-line drugs.