Urinary Escherichia Coli Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and their Relationship with Community Antibiotic use in Tasmania, Australia

Abstract

This study assessed urinary Escherichia coli antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Tasmania, Australia, and examined their association with community antibiotic use. The susceptibility profiles of all urinary E. coli isolates collected in Tasmania between January 2010 and December 2012 were included. The amount of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)-subsidised use of amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC),cefalexin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim was retrieved (at the Tasmanian population level)and the number of defined daily doses per 1000 population per day in Tasmania for these antibiotics was calculated for each month during the study period. Antimicrobial susceptibility data were assessed for changes over time in the 3-year study period. Antimicrobial use and susceptibility data were assessed for seasonal differences and lag in resistance following antibiotic use. Excluding duplicates, 27 775 E. coli isolates were included. Resistance levels were low; 35% of isolates were non-susceptible to amoxicillin,14% were non-susceptible to trimethoprim and