EVOLUTION OF THE PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AMONG Escherichia coli ISOLATED AS A CAUSE OF INFECTION IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A IV-LEVEL HOSPITAL IN LIMA, PERU

The levels and evolution of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli during 01/2009-06/2010 (Period 1), 01/2012-06-2013 (Period 2) and 07/2013-12/2014 (Period 3) were analyzed. Identification, susceptibility levels to 13 antibiotics and the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) were determined. Overall, 9,918 microorganisms were isolated as a cause of infection. Of these 3,016 (30.4%) were E. coli, with 1,770 (59%), 992 (33%) and 254 (8%), from the Medicine and the Surgery Departments and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), respectively. There was a significant increase (p=0.0002) of E. coli throughout considered periods. The isolates presented high levels of resistance (>60%) to cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole, being only susceptible to imipenem (0.3% of resistance) and tigecycline. Overall the analysis of evolution of antimicrobial resistance showed that resistance to cephalosporins and amikacin significantly increased, while, the ones of piperacillin-tazobactam, cotrimoxazole and gentamicin had significantly decreased. Nevertheless, the ICU isolates showed an inverse scenario for cephalosporins. These findings agree with an increase of ESBLs on the Medicine (56% to 66%; p<0.0001) and on the Surgery (54% to 62%; p=0.0197) departments, with a parallel decrease in the ICU (76% to 68%). In summary, high levels of antimicrobial resistance have been reported among E. coli, with worrisome levels of ESBL. A continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance levels in the area is needed.