PhD researcher University of Technology Sydney University of Technology Sydney Manly, Australia
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide growing problem with geographical variation resulting from different resources, infrastructure and (antibiotic) policies. Accurate geographical differences of AMR are valuable for hotspot identification that can assist intervention policies.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to geographically map the distribution of resistance in Escherichia coli urinary isolates by antibiotic in the Illawarra region.
Methods: Data from urine Escherichia coli isolates from 2016 – 2018 from a private community-based laboratory were geospatially analyzed. The proportion of resistant isolates ranges were mapped by antibiotic type (amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, cephalexin, norfloxacin and trimethoprim) and postcode.
Results: We found low resistance of amoxicillin with clavulanate, cephalexin and norfloxacin ( < 5%, 5-9%) followed by trimethoprim (15-19% and 20-24%) and highest for amoxicillin/ampicillin (35-39%, 40-44% and 45-49%). Three postcodes with the highest proportion of resistance for all five antibiotics tested were identified around the metropolitan area and harbor.
Conclusions: This study is the first attempt to use spatial mapping to assess the distribution of urinary E. coli isolates in Illawarra. This map can assist further surveillance and policy around AMR for this region.
