Mortality associated with community-acquired cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli in patients admitted to a district hospital in a resource-limited setting

Studies performed in developed countries have shown that infections by third generation cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli (G3CREC) are associated with increased mortality, but data from developing countries are scarce. In this observational study, we collected clinical and microbiological information of 194 patients admitted to a district hospital in India who had community-acquired isolation of Escherichia coli. The proportion of patients with G3CREC was 79.4%. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors associated with 21-day mortality were isolation from a normally sterile site, HIV infection and isolation of G3CREC. Strains of Escherichia coli isolated from normally sterile sites had lower levels of resistance to quinolones and beta-lactam antibiotics. The proportion of meropenem and ciprofloxacin resistance was 11.1% and 80.9% respectively. The high proportion of G3CREC in the community and the association of G3CREC with 21-day mortality indicate that G3CREC is a major public health problem in developing countries.