Playgroup germs are getting stronger, a new study says, with children at a higher risk of contracting bacterial infections that put up a fight against antibiotics. Though the bacteria in question occur relatively infrequently, the incidence of infection is nevertheless increasing in children of all ages - particularly those aged one to five. 

The study observed resistance patterns in 370,000 bacterial cultures taken from 1999 to 2011, noting that the years ticked by, the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzyme - characterized by a stronger resistance to antibiotics that often derails treatment - appeared on a more frequent basis.  

"These antibiotic-resistant bacteria have traditionally been found in health care settings but are increasingly being found in the community, in people who have not had a significant history of health care exposure," said Dr. Latania K. Logan, the study's lead author and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Rush University Medical Center. "In our study, though previous medical histories of the subjects were unknown, 51.3 percent of the children with these infections presented in the outpatient or ambulatory setting." Dr. Logan continued, pointing to the ineffective treatment afforded to children with the stronger strains of infection. "Some infections in children that have typically been treated with oral antibiotics in the past may now require hospitalization, treatment with intravenous drugs, or both, as there may not be an oral treatment option available," she said. 

Of the cultures tested, nearly 75 percent of those with ESBL enzymes resisted several types of antibiotics, rather than just one or two. ESBL bacteria is also known for its swiftly-spreading nature, subsequently resulting in hospitalization and escalating health care costs. In the worst case scenario, ESBL-producing bacteria may also result in fatalities. 

Logan also recommended more focused research efforts towards creating appropriate pharmaceutical products for pediatric patients. "The overwhelming majority of current research for new pharmaceuticals against antibiotic-resistant organisms are in adults," she said. Indeed, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just last year labeling ESBLs as a 'serious concern,' the drive towards boosting research is gaining traction in the medical community. 

The study was published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.