From urine to blood: How antibiotic resistance spreads

People with drug-resistant bacteria in their urine or stool samples are at an increased risk of developing Sepsis, a bloodstream infection that is also resistant to certain antibiotics, according to a recent study.

Sepsis affects an estimated 30 million people worldwide each year. Without quick treatment, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Treating sepsis can be even more difficult if the bacteria responsible are resistant to antibiotics.

Presenting the research at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Joakim Isendahl from the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden told the congress that in some cases bacteria may be spreading from the bowel or urinary tract into the bloodstream, while in others the bacteria found in patients' urine or stool samples could be transferring their ability to resist antibiotics to other bacteria in the body, which then can cause sepsis.

The study of 66,000 people showed that the risk of drug-resistant sepsis is highest soon after drug-resistant bacteria have been detected in a patient's urine or stool, and that this risk diminishes over time. The researchers say their finding could help doctors diagnose drug-resistant sepsis and inform treatment choices.

The research focused on certain bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, that produce enzymes called extended spectrum Beta-lactamases. These enzymes allow bacteria to break down a variety of antibiotics including penicillin and third-generation cephalosporins. These drug-resistant bacteria are known as extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, or EPE.

Researchers studied all subjects who were found to have these types of bacteria in their urine or stool samples in Sweden between 2007 and 2012, more than 22,000 in total. They compared them with an equivalent group of 44,000 people who had no diagnosis of EPE. They followed the subjects for six years to find out if they subsequently developed a bloodstream infection.

The data revealed that people whose bowels had been colonised previously by EPE were 57 times more likely to develop an EPE infection of the bloodstream, compared to the general population. For those with a previous finding of EPE in their urine, the risk was 113 times higher than the general population. Over the six-year study period, 2 percent of those with EPE in the bowel and 4 percent of those with a urinary tract infection went on to have a bloodstream infection with EPE. This compares to 0.02 percent in the general population.

Sepsis is treated with antibiotic drugs injected directly into the blood. One important drug group for sepsis treatment is called carbapenems. Carbapenems are often referred to as 'last-resort' drugs because they are some of the few that are effective against the increasing number of drug-resistant bacteria. Although these are life-saving treatments, experts have warned that over-use will lead to bacteria also developing resistance to carbapenems.

He explained: "Although bloodstream infections are rare, their consequences are dire and treatment must be given as quickly as possible.

"Knowing if a patient has had a previous finding of EPE, and how long ago it was, helps inform doctors on when last-resort drugs are essential, but also on when they are not needed. This is important since prudent use is imperative to keep them effective. We found that the riskiest time was in the days and weeks after the bacteria were found in the urine or stool sample, but there is still an increased risk up to three years later.