Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Escherichia coli, a Tertiary Center Nine-Year Comparison

Rola Saqan,1 Mohammad Tayyem,2 Mohammad Alathirah,2 Asaad Mohammad Jarrar,2 Reem Mohammad Muhsen,2 Wail Hayajneh,3 Yazan Ayman Abuzenah4 1Pediatric Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, St Louis, MO, USA; 4Pediatric Department, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Mohammad Tayyem, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Email [email protected]: This study used data collected nine years apart (2014 and 2023) to compare the prevalence of Escherichia coli that produces extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) among patients with urinary tract infections at a tertiary care center. Additionally, it aimed to assess how ESBL prevalence varied by gender and age group.Patients and Methods: Urine culture data from 2014 and 2023 were used in this two-point cross-sectional investigation. Data on demographics and microbiology were retrieved and examined. Chi-square tests were used in conjunction with prevalence ratios and phi coefficient tests for statistical comparison.Results: The overall prevalence of ESBL-positive E. coli in 2500 patients rose from 43.7% to 58.9% between 2014 and 2023. The rise was even more noticeable in male patients PR = 1.50 and pediatric patients 41% to 65.4%, PR = 1.55. All age groups showed statistically significant increases in ESBL-positive, however, the level of statistical power varied.Conclusion: There has been a rise in ESBL-producing E. coli UTIs over the previous ten years, particularly in male children. These results emphasize how urgent it is to improve responsible antibiotic use must be improved to reduce future antimicrobial resistance.Keywords: urinary tract infection, ESBL-producing E. coli, antimicrobial resistance, pediatric UTI, gender differences, Jordan, β-lactamase, multidrug resistance