Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Study Flags Alarming Rise In Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli In US Newborns

The rates of resistance to recommended antibiotics are rising among newborns in the US, according to an analysis of invasive Escherichia coli samples.

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/e-coli">E coli</a> is a major neonatal pathogen in the United States and a leading cause of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/sepsis">sepsis</a> and mortality in newborns.

“Mortality due to E. coli sepsis remains high, especially in preterm newborns. Resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, the most common empiric treatments for E. coli sepsis, is worsening,” said researchers from the University of Missouri.

They called for tailoring treatment regimens against neonatal E. coli sepsis according to evolving antibiotic resistance trends.

“Neonatal sepsis isolates are characterized by specific genomic traits indicative of virulent phenotypes that need continued surveillance,” they added in the research published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases journal. 

The researchers identified and analyzed E coli isolated from blood cultures of newborns at the hospital from 2006 to 2021. They intended to investigate the clinical characteristics of newborns with E coli bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and the pattern of antibiotic resistance in E coli isolates over time.

“This knowledge is crucial to develop effective preventative and treatment strategies for this devastating disease,” the researchers wrote.

Of the 54 newborns identified with E coli bacteremia

<ul><li>7 developed early-onset sepsis (within 72 hours of birth or less), </li><li>12 were treated for E coli meningitis, </li><li>2 had necrotizing enterocolitis. </li><li>Five of the newborns died, including three who were born preterm. </li></ul>The mortality rate was 19 per cent in preterm newborns versus 5 per cent for term newborns.

Antibiotic susceptibility analysis found 54 per cent of E coli isolates overall were non-susceptible to ampicillin and 11 per cent were non-susceptible to gentamicin—the two antibiotics recommended for first-line treatment in newborns with sepsis.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-cdc-links-recent-salmonella-outbreak-to-backyard-poultry-article-154194406" data-type="tilCustomLink">US CDC Links Recent Salmonella Outbreak To Backyard Poultry</a>

Meanwhile, nonsusceptibility to ampicillin rose from 46 per cent to 61 per cent between 2006-2013 and 2014-2021. 

The percentage of isolates that were non-susceptible to cefazolin, an alternative therapy, rose from 8 per cent to 36 per cent.

Whole genome sequencing revealed that the most prominent E coli sequence types (STs) were 

<ul><li>ST95 (17 per cent), </li><li>ST69 (11 per cent), </li><li>ST131 (7 per cent), </li><li>43 per cent of isolates contained the K1 capsule, which plays a crucial role in disease progression. </li></ul>The authors stressed the need for continuing surveillance of resistance in larger US populations to help clinicians select effective antibiotic regimens in newborns with sepsis.

“Understanding genomic traits and molecular epidemiology trends of neonatal E. coli invasive strains is also crucial to develop novel preventative and treatment strategies that are urgently needed,” they wrote. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/australia-reports-diphtheria-outbreak-in-almost-50-years-what-you-need-to-know-article-154145694" data-type="tilCustomLink">Australia Reports Diphtheria Outbreak In Almost 50 Years: What You Need to Know</a>

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria learn to withstand the medicines(antibiotics) that are supposed to kill them. It's like the bacteria have developed a suit of armor against the drug.

When this happens, doctors have to switch to different antibiotics. These backup medicines might not work as well or might cause more side effects. Sometimes, a bacteria can become resistant to all available drugs, which leaves the patient with a dangerous infection that doctors have no way to treat. The alarming thing is that these tough, drug-resistant bacteria can spread from one person to another, both in hospitals and at home. 

A 2025 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that one out of every six serious infections confirmed in labs worldwide in 2024 could not be killed by the antibiotics meant to treat them. 

The report noted that the standard, first-choice antibiotic is failing against over 40 per cent of E. coli.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

antibiotic resistance

E Coli

antibiotics

escherichia

university of missouri

national foundation for infectious diseases

cefazolin

sepsis

united states

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The rates of resistance to recommended antibiotics are rising among newborns in the US, according to an analysis of invasive Escherichia coli samples.E coli is a major neonatal pathogen in the United States and a leading cause of sepsis and mortality in newborns. “Mortality due to E. coli sepsis remains high, especially in preterm newborns. Resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, the most common empiric treatments for E. coli sepsis, is worsening,” said researchers from the University of Missouri.They called for tailoring treatment regimens against neonatal E. coli sepsis according to evolving antibiotic resistance trends. “Neonatal sepsis isolates are characterized by specific genomic traits indicative of virulent phenotypes that need continued surveillance,” they added in the research published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases journal.  What Are the Key Findings? The researchers identified and analyzed E coli isolated from blood cultures of newborns at the hospital from 2006 to 2021. They intended to investigate the clinical characteristics of newborns with E coli bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and the pattern of antibiotic resistance in E coli isolates over time. “This knowledge is crucial to develop effective preventative and treatment strategies for this devastating disease,” the researchers wrote. Of the 54 newborns identified with E coli bacteremia7 developed early-onset sepsis (within 72 hours of birth or less), 12 were treated for E coli meningitis, 2 had necrotizing enterocolitis. Five of the newborns died, including three who were born preterm. The mortality rate was 19 per cent in preterm newborns versus 5 per cent for term newborns.Antibiotic susceptibility analysis found 54 per cent of E coli isolates overall were non-susceptible to ampicillin and 11 per cent were non-susceptible to gentamicin—the two antibiotics recommended for first-line treatment in newborns with sepsis.Also read: US CDC Links Recent Salmonella Outbreak To Backyard PoultryMeanwhile, nonsusceptibility to ampicillin rose from 46 per cent to 61 per cent between 2006-2013 and 2014-2021. The percentage of isolates that were non-susceptible to cefazolin, an alternative therapy, rose from 8 per cent to 36 per cent. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the most prominent E coli sequence types (STs) were ST95 (17 per cent), ST69 (11 per cent), ST131 (7 per cent), 43 per cent of isolates contained the K1 capsule, which plays a crucial role in disease progression. The authors stressed the need for continuing surveillance of resistance in larger US populations to help clinicians select effective antibiotic regimens in newborns with sepsis. “Understanding genomic traits and molecular epidemiology trends of neonatal E. coli invasive strains is also crucial to develop novel preventative and treatment strategies that are urgently needed,” they wrote. What Is Antibiotic Resistance?Read More: Australia Reports Diphtheria Outbreak In Almost 50 Years: What You Need to KnowAccording to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria learn to withstand the medicines(antibiotics) that are supposed to kill them. It's like the bacteria have developed a suit of armor against the drug. When this happens, doctors have to switch to different antibiotics. These backup medicines might not work as well or might cause more side effects. Sometimes, a bacteria can become resistant to all available drugs, which leaves the patient with a dangerous infection that doctors have no way to treat. The alarming thing is that these tough, drug-resistant bacteria can spread from one person to another, both in hospitals and at home.  A 2025 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that one out of every six serious infections confirmed in labs worldwide in 2024 could not be killed by the antibiotics meant to treat them.  The report noted that the standard, first-choice antibiotic is failing against over 40 per cent of E. coli.