The challenge of pseudomonas aeruginosa related infections in a Urology Ward: Epidemiology, risk factors and patterns of antibiotic resistance

• Published in: Archivos españoles de urología Vol. 73; no. 4; p. 299
• Main Authors: González-Díaz, Alejandro, Medina-Polo, José, Abad-López, Pablo, González-Padilla, Daniel Antonio, García-Rojo, Esther, Santos-Pérez de la Blanca, Rocío, Hernández-Arroyo, Mario, Tejido-Sánchez, Ángel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Drug Resistance, Microbial - drug effects; Humans; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas Infections - drug therapy; Pseudomonas Infections - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Urology; Spain; Infecciones; Antibiotic resistance; Resistencia a antibióticos; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Factores de riesgo; Infections; Urología; Risk factors; Urology
• ISSN: 0004-0614

Urological patients usually come up with risk factors for developing infections. Some of these are caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whose notable resistance rates to antibiotics and aggressiveness make its treatment a challenge in clinical practice. Our objective was to analyze Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections incidence, risk factors and features in patients admitted to a Urology Ward in a tertiary care university hospital in Spain. We carried out a prospective observational study from 2012 to 2017, to review all infections in our Ward with a special focus on those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, performing a descriptive analysis and a comparison with other causative agents. 78 Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation were registered during this period. Having a catheter of the upper urinary tract (CUUT) or comorbidities and undergoing surgery, were frequently observed among these patients although the results did not reach statistically significant differences for more frequent isolation compared to other pathogens. Antibiotic resistance rates were high for cephalosporins (33.3%) and quinolones (50%), while carbapenems (24.4%), aztreonam (10.3%) and amikacin (23.1%) exhibited the best activity. No deaths related to the infection were registered. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly isolated in patients carrying a CUUT. An early suspicion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and knowledge of local antibiotic resistance pattern are of paramount importance for improving the outcomes and handling this worldwide problem.