Relative faecal abundance of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales and its impact on infections among intensive care unit patients: a pilot study

This pilot prospective study assessed the association between the faecal relative abundance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) and the occurrence of ESBL-PE related infections. Twenty-four patients were included. The median ESBL relative abundance was 32.4%. The mean ESBL-PE relative abundance (ESBL-PE-RA) was more than five-fold higher in patients exposed during the last three months to antibiotics (P = 0.002). Furthermore, the mean ESBL relative abundance was more than two-fold higher in patients colonized with non-E. coli strains (P = 0.044). The mean ESBLPE-RA was more than 10-fold higher for the concordant patients than for the discordant patients (59.1% vs 4.9%; P < 0.001). (C) 2021 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This pilot study assessed the association between faecal ESBL-PE abundance and ESBL-PE related infections, finding that patients exposed to antibiotics had higher ESBL-PE relative abundance, and patients colonized with non-E. coli strains had higher ESBL relative abundance. Patients with concordant ESBL-PE colonization had significantly higher ESBLPE-RA than discordant patients.