Lack of Association Between Patients Characteristics and the Carriage of Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Community Settings in Blantyre, Malawi

Abstract Objective: This study examined factors associated with the carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae in community patients in Blantyre, Malawi. ResultsA total of 50 community patients with ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) carriage were identified from 300 adults recruited in the study, which gave a prevalence of 16.67% (50/300, 95% CI=12.43-20.91%). The mean age ±SD was 32.41±12.07 years; range, 18-75 years and 54.33% (163/300) were women. The results of unadjusted logistic regression model fitted to identify factors associated with ESBL-E carriage in community patients showed that there was no any degree of association between carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae in community patients with either their demographic or clinical characteristics.