Gut E. coli Resistance Patterns and Antibiotic Therapy

Resistant strains, present in low numbers before antibiotic therapy, increased significantly 2 to 7 days after treatment started.

Gut bacteria are hit by systemic antibiotic therapy as “innocent bystanders.” However, data on the colonization dynamics of resistant and normal gut flora during and after antibiotic therapy are sparse. To gain further understanding, researchers in Germany analyzed sequential stool specimens collected before, during, and after antibiotic therapy from 541 patients aged ≥40 with common febrile infections between September 2003 and September 2004.

Escherichia coli was cultured from 343 (63%), 275 (51%), and 307 (58%) of the first, second, and third sets of samples. At baseline, 25%, 20%, and 8% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin, doxycycline, and co-trimoxazole, respectively; 1% to 2% were resistant to cephalosporins, gentamic…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection