The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Ertapenem for the Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections Caused by ESBL-Producing Bacteria in Children

Abstract EN

Background.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and important clinical problem in childhood, and extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing organisms are the leading cause of healthcare-related UTIs.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ertapenem therapy in children with complicated UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms.

Methods.

Seventy-seven children with complicated UTIs caused by ESBL-producing organisms were included in this retrospective study, and all had been treated with ertapenem between January 2013 and June 2014.

Results.

Sixty-one (79%) females and sixteen (21%) males with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 76.6 ± 52 months (range 3–204, median 72 months) were enrolled in this study.

Escherichia coli (E.

coli) ( n = 67 ; 87%) was the most common bacterial cause of the UTIs followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.

pneumoniae) ( n = 9 ; 11.7%) and Enterobacter cloacae (E.

cloacae) ( n = 1 ; 1.3%).

The mean duration of the ertapenem therapy was 8.9 ± 1.6 days (range 4–11).

No serious drug-related clinical or laboratory adverse effects were observed, and the ertapenem therapy was found to be safe and well tolerated in the children in our study.

Conclusion.

Ertapenem is a newer carbapenem with the advantage of once-daily dosing and is highly effective for treating UTIs caused by ESBL-producing microorganisms.