Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38971782›Full record

ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2024

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in urinary tract and blood stream infections: results from a nationwide surveillance network, Finland, 2018 to 2022.

Heikki Ilmavirta, Jukka Ollgren, Kati Räisänen, Tuure Kinnunen, Antti Juhani Hakanen, Kaisu Rantakokko-Jalava, Jari Jalava, Outi Lyytikäinen

Abstract read
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Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  7. Epidemiology and risk factors ofEuro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin · 2025
    Article
  8. Trends in Antibiotic Resistance ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Heikki IlmavirtaDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. heikki.ilmavirta@uef.fi.
Jukka OllgrenDepartment of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Kati RäisänenDepartment of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Tuure KinnunenDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Antti Juhani HakanenTyks Laboratories, Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland.
Kaisu Rantakokko-JalavaTyks Laboratories, Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland.
Jari JalavaDepartment of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Outi LyytikäinenDepartment of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBefore the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a constant increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli, the most common cause of urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production in urine and blood E. coli isolates in Finland to improve our understanding on the source attribution of this major multidrug-resistant pathogen.

methodsSusceptibility test results of 564,233 urine (88.3% from females) and 23,860 blood E. coli isolates (58.8% from females) were obtained from the nationwide surveillance database of Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories. Susceptibility testing was performed according to EUCAST guidelines. We compared ESBL-producing E. coli proportions and incidence before (2018-2019), during (2020-2021), and after (2022) the pandemic and stratified these by age groups and sex.

resultsThe annual number of urine E. coli isolates tested for antimicrobial susceptibility decreased 23.3% during 2018-2022 whereas the number of blood E. coli isolates increased 1.1%. The annual proportion of ESBL-producing E. coli in urine E. coli isolates decreased 28.7% among males, from 6.9% (average during 2018-2019) to 4.9% in 2022, and 28.7% among females, from 3.0 to 2.1%. In blood E. coli isolates, the proportion decreased 32.9% among males, from 9.3 to 6.2%, and 26.6% among females, from 6.2 to 4.6%. A significant decreasing trend was also observed in most age groups, but risk remained highest among persons aged ≥ 60 years.

conclusionsThe reduction in the proportions of ESBL-producing E. coli was comprehensive, covering both specimen types, both sexes, and all age groups, showing that the continuously increasing trends could be reversed. Decrease in international travel and antimicrobial use were likely behind this reduction, suggesting that informing travellers about the risk of multidrug-resistant bacteria, hygiene measures, and appropriate antimicrobial use is crucial in prevention. Evaluation of infection control measures in healthcare settings could be beneficial, especially in long-term care.

Indexed as

beta-LactamasesCOVID-19Escherichia coliEscherichia coli InfectionsUrinary Tract InfectionsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacteremiaChildChild, PreschoolDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialFemaleFinlandAnti-Bacterial Agentsbeta-LactamasesAMRBloodstream infectionCOVID-19Decreased resistanceESBLEscherichia coliFemaleFinlandMaleUrinary tract infection

Identifiers

PMID38971782
PMCPMC11227720

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.