CARACTERIZACIÓN DE ENTEROBACTERALES CON BETALACTAMASAS DE ESPECTRO EXTENDIDO EN INFECCIONES URINARIAS DE ADULTOS MAYORES DE LA UNIDAD DE SALUD DE PELILEO

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in urinary tract infections (UTI) in elderly adults, has become a growing challenge. These infections can be especially severe due to underlying risk factors and a weakened immune system. This study aimed to characterize Enterobacterales spp. with Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases ESBL in urinary infections of elderly adults at the Pelileo Health Unit. Urine samples were collected from a total of 80 patients attending the health unit during the established period. The samples were processed using conventional microbiological methods, susceptibility testing, and molecular detection of ESBL genes via conventional PCR. The results showed that the most prevalent pathogen was Escherichia coli, found in 53.13% (17/32) of the isolated cases, followed by K. oxytoca 21.88%, K. pneumoniae 18.75%, and K. aerogenes 3.13%, in addition to the less frequent characterization of Providencia rettgeri at 3.1%. The susceptibility profile demonstrated resistance to beta-lactams in 15.63% (5/32) of the isolated strains, and molecular identification confirmed that the resistance mechanisms are primarily encoded by the blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes. This study provides relevant data for local epidemiological surveillance, underscores the necessity for infection control associated with risk factors related to patient self-care, and proposes preventive strategies aimed at reducing the community dissemination of multi-resistant strains within the population.