Reviewed by Mary Fortini, DO, University of Utah
This was a small prospective study (54 patients) evaluating the development of ESBL-Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), CRE, and VRE colonization in hospitalized hematological malignancy adult patients in a Thailand tertiary care center. Rectal swabs in these patients were obtained on days 0, 7, and 14 of their hospitalization. Results showed incidence of ESBL-E colonization to be the most prominent at 22%, with most positive by day 7 of hospitalization. There was some association between prior chemotherapy complications and development of ESBL-E colonization (p=0.002). Incidence of CRE colonization was 8%, again with most positive by day 7 of hospitalization, and VRE colonization incidence was at 8% with all those samples positive by day 14 of hospitalization. No factors were associated with either CRE or VRE colonization; however, CRE was associated with a longer length of hospital stay. Although limitations included the small sample size and single center study, this study allows for some understanding regarding rates and timing of acquisition of ESBL-E, CRE, and VRE colonization in these vulnerable patients.
Reference:
Rattanon T, Limvorapitak W, Khawcharoenporn T. The incidences and outcomes of acquiring multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales and enterococci colonization among hospitalized hematologic malignancy patients. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. 2025;5(1):e261. doi:10.1017/ash.2025.1017