Prevalence and risk factors for multidrug resistant uropathogens in ED patients

The purpose of this study was to describe resistance patterns of infecting organisms and determine risk factors for multidrug resistance in patients with urinary tract infections. Retrospective case series of 435 patients age greater than or equal to 16 with urinary tract infection. Multidrug resistance was defined as resistance to greater than or equal to two classes of antibiotics, Demographic, historical, and microbiological data were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine risk factors for multidrug resistance, Multidrug resistance was seen in 37% of isolates. Univariate analysis revealed numerous associations with resistance. Multivariate analysis found three independent factors associated with multidrug resistance: urinary catheter use (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4 to 4.8), age greater than or equal to 65 years (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7 to 5.4) and antibiotic use (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.8 to 7.5). Diabetes was also a risk factor when patients with urinary catheters were excluded (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.3), Resistance was seen in all groups of patients, but was particularly common in older patients and those who used a urinary catheter. Antibiotic use was highly associated with multidrug resistance. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:143-146. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company).