Korean J Pediatr.  2017 Jul;60(7):221-226. 10.3345/kjp.2017.60.7.221.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli ST131 in urinary tract infections in children

• Yun KW
• Lee MK
• Kim W
• Lim IS

• KMID: 2387771
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2017.60.7.221

Abstract

PURPOSE
Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) 131, a multidrug-resistant clone causing extraintestinal infections, has rapidly become prevalent worldwide. However, the epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric infections are poorly understood. We aimed to explore the characteristics of ST131 Escherichia coli isolated from Korean children with urinary tract infections.
METHODS
We examined 114 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates from children hospitalized at Chung-Ang University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. Bacterial strains were classified into STs by partial sequencing of seven housekeeping genes (adk, fumC, gyrB, icd, mdh, purA, and recA). Clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility were compared between ST131 and non-ST131 UPEC isolates.
RESULTS
Sixteen UPEC isolates (14.0%) were extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producers; 50.0% of ESBL-producers were ST131 isolates. Of all the isolates tested, 13.2% (15 of 114) were classified as ST131. There were no statistically significant associations between ST131 and age, sex, or clinical characteristics, including fever, white blood cell counts in urine and serum, C-reactive protein, radiologic abnormalities, and clinical outcome. However, ST131 isolates showed significantly lower rates of susceptibility to cefazolin (26.7%), cefotaxime (40.0%), cefepime (40.0%), and ciprofloxacin (53.3%) than non-ST131 isolates (65.7%, 91.9%, 92.9%, and 87.9%, respectively; P<0.001 for all). ESBL was more frequently produced in ST131 (53.3%) than in non-ST131 (8.1%) isolates (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
ST131 E. coli isolates were prevalent uropathogens in children at a single medical center in Korea between 2011 and 2014. Although ST131 isolates showed higher rates of antimicrobial resistance, clinical presentation and outcomes of patients were similar to those of patients infected with non-ST131 isolates.

Keyword

Child; Escherichia coli; Multilocus sequence typing; Urinary tract infection

MeSH Terms

C-Reactive Protein
Cefazolin
Cefotaxime
Child*
Ciprofloxacin
Clone Cells
Escherichia coli
Fever
Genes, Essential
Humans
Korea
Leukocyte Count
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Urinary Tract Infections*
Urinary Tract*
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli*
C-Reactive Protein
Cefazolin
Cefotaxime
Ciprofloxacin