Foreign Travel a Risk Factor for Colonization with Resistant Pathogens

Twenty-four percent of Swedish travelers returned colonized with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli.

The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing gram-negative pathogens is considerably higher in Asia and South America than in Europe or North America. Is foreign travel a risk for colonization with such pathogens?

To find out, researchers conducted a prospective trial involving 100 Swedish adults who were traveling outside northern Europe (mostly to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and southern Europe). All had stool samples negative for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli before departure. When the travelers returned home (median trip duration, 2 weeks), 24 of them were found to be colonized with ESBL-producing E. coli. All 24 E. coli strains produced CTX-M enzymes (CTX-M15 in 7 of 7 strains acquired during travel to India; CT…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection