What is the recommended treatment for Aerococcus urinae infections in older adults or those with underlying health conditions, particularly with impaired renal function?

Treatment of Aerococcus urinae Infections in Older Adults with Impaired Renal Function

For symptomatic Aerococcus urinae urinary tract infections in older adults with impaired renal function, treat with penicillin, amoxicillin, or fosfomycin 3g single dose as first-line agents, with fosfomycin being optimal when creatinine clearance is significantly reduced since it requires no dose adjustment. 1, 2, 3

Critical Diagnostic Requirement Before Treatment

Do not treat asymptomatic bacteriuria—even if A. urinae is isolated—as it causes neither morbidity nor increased mortality and treatment only promotes resistance. 4, 3

Before initiating antibiotics, confirm the patient has:

• Recent-onset dysuria PLUS at least one of: urinary frequency, urgency, new incontinence, systemic signs (fever >100°F, rigors, hypotension), or costovertebral angle tenderness 3, 5
• In elderly patients, altered mental status, new-onset confusion, functional decline, or falls may be the only presenting features of true UTI 6

First-Line Antibiotic Selection

For Patients with Impaired Renal Function:

Fosfomycin trometamol 3g single dose is the optimal choice because it maintains therapeutic urinary concentrations regardless of renal function and requires no dose adjustment 3, 5

Alternative First-Line Agents (if fosfomycin unavailable):

• Penicillin or amoxicillin: 100% susceptibility demonstrated in recent surveillance, effective for both simple and complicated A. urinae UTIs 1, 2
• Nitrofurantoin: 95.8% susceptibility, achieved 71% clinical cure and 76% microbiological cure in prospective A. urinae cystitis treatment studies 2, 7
  • Critical caveat: Avoid if CrCl <30-60 mL/min due to inadequate urinary concentrations and increased toxicity risk 3

Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for A. urinae

Based on the most recent 2024 surveillance data 2:

• Penicillin: 100% susceptible
• Amoxicillin: 100% susceptible
• Meropenem: 100% susceptible
• Vancomycin: 100% susceptible
• Rifampicin: 100% susceptible
• Nitrofurantoin: 95.8% susceptible
• Fosfomycin: 91.7% susceptible
• Ciprofloxacin: 83.3% susceptible
• Levofloxacin: 79.2% susceptible

Agents to Avoid in Elderly Patients

Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) should be avoided unless all other options are exhausted due to:

• Increased risk of tendon rupture in elderly, especially those on corticosteroids 8
• CNS effects and QT prolongation risk 8
• Greater susceptibility to drug-associated QT interval effects in elderly 8
• Lower susceptibility rates for A. urinae (79-83%) compared to beta-lactams 2
• Only 42-50% clinical success for A. sanguinicola UTI 7

Renal Dosing Considerations

For elderly patients, renal function declines approximately 40% by age 70 3:

• Calculate creatinine clearance using Cockcroft-Gault equation to guide all medication dosing 3
• Assess and optimize hydration status immediately before nephrotoxic drug therapy 3
• Avoid coadministration of nephrotoxic drugs with any UTI treatment 3
• Recheck renal function in 48-72 hours after hydration and antibiotic initiation 3

Essential Culture and Monitoring Requirements

Always obtain urine culture with susceptibility testing before initiating empiric treatment because:

• A. urinae may be underdiagnosed as it grows best in CO2-containing atmosphere, which is not standard for urine cultures 9
• Increasing antibiotic resistance patterns necessitate culture-specific treatment 1
• Higher rates of antimicrobial resistance in elderly with urinary tract conditions require careful empirical selection 4
• Culture allows adjustment after initial empiric therapy 3

Special Populations and Severe Infections

Complicated UTI or Pyelonephritis:

• Ciprofloxacin achieved success in A. urinae pyelonephritis cases 7
• Consider levofloxacin 750mg for 5 days or amoxicillin-based regimens depending on susceptibilities 8, 1

Invasive A. urinae Infections (Bacteremia, Endocarditis, Spondylodiscitis):

• Amoxicillin IV followed by oral levofloxacin successfully treated spondylodiscitis 9
• Ceftriaxone plus aminoglycoside for endocarditis (high mortality 70% if untreated) 10
• Prompt culture-specific treatment is critical to avoid clinical progression 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never treat based solely on positive urine dipstick or pyuria—specificity is only 20-70% in elderly patients 3, 5
• Do not treat asymptomatic bacteriuria occurring in 40% of institutionalized elderly 4
• Avoid treating confusion/delirium as UTI without fever or genitourinary symptoms—treatment increases CDI risk (OR 2.45) and worsens functional outcomes (OR 3.45) 4
• Do not prescribe nitrofurantoin if CrCl <30-60 mL/min despite its excellent A. urinae activity 3

Risk Factors for A. urinae Infection

A. urinae predominantly affects 1, 2, 9:

• Elderly patients (median age 72-80 years)
• Males with underlying urologic disease (chronic urinary retention, indwelling catheters, urologic cancer)
• Patients with multimorbidity: diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, chronic lung disease, dementia