New research presented at the ESCIMD Global Congress in Barcelona revealed concerning findings regarding the outcomes of Black women hospitalized in the US with a blood infection resistant to last-resort antibiotics. The study, led by Dr. Felicia Ruffin from Duke University School of Medicine, highlighted that Black women facing bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (CRE) were at a significantly higher risk of death compared to Black men or White women.

The study, which analyzed data from 362 patients across 29 US hospitals, emphasized that even after adjusting for various factors such as age, BSI source, liver disease, hospital onset, race, and gender, the odds of death for Black women remained twice as high. Dr. Ruffin expressed deep concern over these disparities, noting the scarcity of studies addressing such issues.

While the research did not pinpoint the exact reasons behind these disparities, potential factors such as differences in comorbid conditions affecting immune responses were suggested. The study underscored the need for further research to uncover the social determinants influencing health outcomes in these cases.

The CDC estimates that millions of people are infected annually with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leading to thousands of deaths. Enterobacterales, a group of disease-causing bacteria in humans, pose a significant threat due to their resistance to carbapenems, the last resort antibiotics for severe infections.

CRE infections have been linked to high mortality rates among hospitalized patients, with up to 50% in some studies. However, the specific impact of race and gender on clinical outcomes following CRE-related bloodstream infections has remained largely unknown.

Barriers to medical care access, socioeconomic status, antibiotic use disparities, and health literacy regarding antimicrobial resistance were highlighted as potential contributors to these disparities. Addressing these issues is crucial in tackling racial and biological sex inequities in healthcare.

The study’s findings shed light on the urgent need for further research and interventions to address the disproportionate impact of CRE infections on Black women in the US healthcare system.