Low antimicrobial resistance in general practice patients in Rotterdam, the city with the largest proportion of immigrants in the Netherlands

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in general practice patients is expected to be relatively high in Rotterdam, the Dutch city with the largest proportion non-Western immigrants. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant uropathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis) in general practices in Rotterdam, and to find a possible association between the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). A retrospective analysis was performed of urine samples from general practice patients in 2016. The prevalence of AMR in uropathogens was compared with national resistance data, as was the prevalence of highly and multidrug resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Univariate logistic regression was used to study associations between antibiotic-resistant E. coli and age, gender, and SES area score. No clinically relevant differences were observed in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant uropathogens in Rotterdam compared with the national prevalence. For E. coli and K. pneumoniae, the prevalence was 3.6% for ESBL production (both pathogens together), while the prevalence ranged between 4.2%–5.0% for high resistance and between 1.2%–3.3% for multidrug resistance. Ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli was significantly associated with higher age. Although Rotterdam has a high percentage of non-western immigrants and a low SES, AMR is low among general practice patients. This indicates that adherence to national guidelines in general practice enables maintenance of low AMR, even in high-risk populations.

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