Prevalence of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) Among ICU Personnel's Stool Specimens in Teaching Hospitals in Tehran

Ghasemi, Mahsa; Abolghasemi, Soheila; Darvishi, Mohammad; Masjedi, Moein; Mohammadi, Rahim; Homayooni, Amir; Ashouri, Alireza; Ejaz, Laila

doi:10.30476/tips.2025.105123.1275

Prevalence of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) Among ICU Personnel's Stool Specimens in Teaching Hospitals in Tehran

Document Type : Brief Report

Authors

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center (IDTMC), School of Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

⁴ Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

⁵ Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK

⁶ College of Pharmacy, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

10.30476/tips.2025.105123.1275

Abstract

Background: Infections among intensive care unit (ICU) staff can lead to significant challenges, making their prevention crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. This study aimed to assess the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) in fecal samples from personnel working in the ICU of Besat Hospital and hospitals affiliated with the Islamic Azad University of Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive study involved 64 ICU staff members from Besat Hospital and affiliated institutions, selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The fecal samples were cultured to test for ESBL E. coli across four different stages.
Results: The average age of the participants was 37.08 years, with 64.1% were female. Among the ICU staff, 70.3% were nurses, while 29.7% held other positions. Nearly 29.7% of the staff had less than ten years of work experience, while two-third (70.3%) of participants had ten or more years of work experience. The results showed that 37.5% tested positive for E. coli, with 20.3% specifically identified as ESBL E. coli.
Conclusion: Our findings indicated that fecal samples of about one in five ICU personnel was positive for ESBL E. coli. Additionally, the risk of infection appears to be higher among older individuals, those with longer work experience, and nurses compared to other staff members.

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