Antimicrobial Resistance in Enteric Gram-Negative Organisms
Antimicrobial resistance is a phenomenon that predates the introduction of antibiotics into clinical practice and has become an exponentially growing problem worldwide, leading to increased mortality and increased costs of health care use. Among the many organisms with ever-worsening resistance profiles, Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae species are significant pathogens, both in terms of numbers and the severity of the infections they cause. The purpose of this review is to examine the emerging concern of antimicrobial resistance and the approach to treatment in the setting of infection with resistant organisms. We will focus on the resistance mechanisms of Enterobacteriaceae to select antimicrobial classes, briefly discuss the epidemiology of resistance, and discuss current treatment strategies. The specific epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of individual members of the Enterobacteriaceae are discussed in the review “Infections Due to Escherichia coli and Other Enteric Gram-Negative Bacilli,” found elsewhere in this publication. Figures illustrate the mechanisms of antimicrobial resitance in Enterobacteriaceae. Tables list the Ambler classification of ESBL/AmpC and carbapenemase enzymes, and antibiotics with activity against carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 2 tables, and 27 references.