A Cohort Study of Risk Factors That Influence Empirical Treatment of Patients with Acute Pyelonephritis

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 Nov 22;61(12):e01317-17. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01317-17. Print 2017 Dec.

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to compare community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN) with health care-associated acute pyelonephritis (HCA-APN), describe the outcomes, and identify variables that could predict antimicrobial susceptibility. We conducted an observational study that included all consecutive episodes of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in adults during 2014 at a Spanish university hospital. From each episode, demographic data, comorbidities, clinical presentation, microbiological data, antimicrobial therapy, and outcome were recorded. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to define the variables associated with antimicrobial resistance. A total of 607 patients, 503 (82.9%) with CA-APN and 104 (17.1%) with HCA-APN, were included in the study. Patients with HCA-APN were older than patients with CA-APN (70.4 versus 50.6 years; P < 0.001) and had higher rates of previous urinary tract infections (UTIs) (56.5% versus 24.5%; P < 0.001) and previous antibiotic use (56.8% versus 22.8%; P < 0.001). Escherichia coli was more frequently isolated from patients with CA-APN than from patients with HCA-APN (79.9% versus 50.5%; P < 0.001). The rates of resistance of Escherichia coli strains from CA-APN patients versus HCA-APN patients were as follows: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 22.4% versus 53.2% (P = 0.001); cefuroxime, 7.7% versus 43.5% (P = 0.001); cefotaxime, 4.3% versus 32.6% (P < 0.001); ciprofloxacin, 22.8% versus 74.5% (P < 0.001); and co-trimoxazole, 34.5% versus 58.7% (P = 0.003). The site of acquisition, recurrent UTIs, and previous antibiotic use were independent risk factors for antimicrobial resistance. Relapse rates were significantly higher when definitive antimicrobial treatment was not adequate (37.1% versus 9.3% when definitive antimicrobial treatment was adequate; P < 0.001). Our study reflects the rise of resistance to commonly used antibiotics in acute pyelonephritis. In order to choose the adequate empirical antibiotic therapy, risk factors for resistance should be considered.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; epidemiology; urinary tract infection.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cefotaxime / therapeutic use
  • Cefuroxime / therapeutic use
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community-Acquired Infections
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Empirical Research
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / pathology
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyelonephritis / drug therapy*
  • Pyelonephritis / microbiology
  • Pyelonephritis / pathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
  • Urinary Tract Infections / drug therapy*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Cefotaxime
  • Cefuroxime