Investigation of High-Risk ST131 Clone in Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Escherichia coli Isolates in Children

Abstract

Objective Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to children's health. In recent years, high-risk Escherichia coli ST131 has become an important target for global surveillance studies. The E.coli ST131 clone is associated with extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production, as well as multidrug resistance and treatment failure. Studies on this clone in the pediatric age group are limited. We aim to investigate the rate of high-risk E. coli ST131 clone in ESBL-positive E. coli isolates obtained from pediatric patients. Methods A total of 292 ESBL-positive E. coli isolates from clinical samples of pediatric patients was included in the study. MALDI-TOF MS system was used for bacterial identification. Susceptibility tests were performed using BD Phoenix automated system. ST131 detection was done by MALDI-TOF-MS. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the groups (significance <0.05). Results A total of 292 isolates was analyzed. The high-risk ST131 clone was detected in 117 (40%) of the 292 ESBL-positive isolates. ST131 rates were found to be significantly higher in children under the age of 5 years compared with children over the age of 5 years (49.3 vs. 31.1%, p = 0.0019). Ciprofloxacin resistance was higher in ST131 isolates (45.6 vs. 31.7%; p < 0.05). Conclusion The rate of the ST131 clone was found to be high in the pediatric population. The significantly high rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin, which is not commonly used in the pediatric population, in ST131 isolates reveals the importance of the spread of high-risk clones for the development of resistance.

Biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance pattern of uropathogenic E. coli ST131 isolated from children with malignant tumors

“…Very few studies have been conducted on the frequency of ST131 in uropathogenic E. coli isolates [ 13 ]. In one study, Bulut et al, reported similar frequency of ST131 E. coli among children [ 14 ]. There was no discernible difference between the ST131 isolates and the 13 non-ST131 isolates that were recovered from children being treated for cancer.…”