Prevalence and Predictors of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms Among Ambulatory Cancer Patients with Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common community-acquired infections in patients with cancer. Though the prevalence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) has increased, there are limited studies on MDROs among ambulatory cancer patients with UTIs. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of MDROs in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of adult cancer patients treated for bacterial UTIs in the ambulatory setting at King Hussein Cancer Center. The medical laboratory’s system was used to identify positive urine cultures taken in the ambulatory setting, between Aug 2020 and March 2021. UTIs were defined as a positive urine culture along with the initiation of antibiotics empirically or as definitive therapy. Patient characteristics, as well as the type and sensitivity of the bacterial organisms, were recorded. MDROs were defined as intrinsic or acquired non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors that were independently associated with MDROs. RESULTS: A total of 376 patients had UTIs that met the inclusion criteria; mean age 60.5±15.1 (SD) years and 330 (87.8%) had solid tumors. Gram-negative bacteria was recorded in the majority of UTIs (n = 368, 97.9%), the most common being Escherichia-coli (n = 220, 59.8%) and Klebsiella-pneumonia (n = 68, 18.5%). MDROs were recorded in 226 (60.1%) of urine cultures, with the majority being extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase producing organisms (n = 142, 62.8%). The only significant predictor was having had a UTI with MDRO within the past 6 months (OR 5.6, 95% CI 2.1–15.2). CONCLUSION: More than half of the positive urine cultures of cancer patients treated for UTIs in the ambulatory setting were MDROs. A subsequent UTI due to MDROs is more likely to occur in patients who had a UTI with an MDRO within the past 6 months.