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The prevalence of antibiotic resistance among extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)--producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae has increased markedly in recent years. Thirty-three patients with infection due to ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae (case patients) were compared with 66 matched controls. Total prior antibiotic use was the only independent risk factor for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae infection (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.03--1.18; P=.006). Case patients were treated with an effective antibiotic a median of 72 hours after infection was suspected, compared with a median of 11.5 hours after infection was suspected for controls (P<.001). ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae infection was associated with a significantly longer duration of hospital stay and greater hospital charges (P=.01 and P<.001, respectively). Finally, many ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were closely related. ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae infections have a significant impact on several important clinical outcomes, and efforts to control outbreaks of infection with ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae should emphasize judicious use of all antibiotics as well as barrier precautions to reduce spread.
Lautenbach et al. (Sun,) studied this question.