Treatment with a broad-spectrum cephalosporin versus piperacillin-tazobactam and the risk for isolation of broad-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter species

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Jun;47(6):1882-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.47.6.1882-1886.2003.

Abstract

Receipt of a broad-spectrum cephalosporin is a strong risk factor for isolation of broad-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter species, and yet the risk from other broad-spectrum beta-lactams hydrolyzed by group 1 beta-lactamases has not been well characterized. We compared the risk conferred by broad-spectrum cephalosporins to that conferred by piperacillin-tazobactam, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside or a fluoroquinolone. A retrospective cohort was monitored from treatment onset until a broad-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter strain was isolated or the patient was discharged. There were 447 patients in the piperacillin-tazobactam group and 2,341 patients in the broad-spectrum cephalosporin group. Groups were similar in age (mean, 62.5 years). The piperacillin-tazobactam group had a smaller percentage of men (32% versus 44%, P < 0.001) and a lower rate of intensive care unit stay (25% versus 38%, P < 0.001) but a higher rate of surgery (41% versus 26%, P < 0.001). Groups differed in the distribution of comorbidities. Resistant Enterobacter strains were isolated from 62 patients, 2% in each group (hazard ratio [RR] = 1.02 [P = 0.95]). In multivariable analysis, risk was similar among treatment groups (RR = 0.71 [P = 0.32]). Intensive care unit stay and surgery were associated with increased risk (RR = 4.53 [P < 0.001] and RR = 1.97 [P = 0.015], respectively), fluoroquinolones were protective (RR = 0.24 [P = 0.003]), and aminoglycosides did not affect risk (RR = 0.98 [P = 0.95]). The protective effect of fluoroquinolones against isolation of broad-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter spp. and the equivalence in risk associated with piperacillin-tazobactam and broad-spectrum cephalosporins may have important clinical and epidemiologic implications.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ceftazidime / pharmacology*
  • Ceftazidime / therapeutic use
  • Ceftriaxone / pharmacology*
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / pharmacology
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
  • Enterobacter / growth & development*
  • Enterobacter / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacter / metabolism
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Penicillanic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Penicillanic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Penicillanic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Piperacillin / pharmacology*
  • Piperacillin / therapeutic use
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • beta-Lactam Resistance

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Penicillanic Acid
  • Ceftazidime
  • Piperacillin