Association of SGLT-2 inhibitors with bacterial urinary tract infection in type 2 diabetes

BMC Endocr Disord. 2023 Oct 3;23(1):211. doi: 10.1186/s12902-023-01464-6.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with UTI in patients with T2D whether being treated with SGLT-2i or not.

Methods: Adult patients with T2D, whose urine culture results were available, were analyzed retrospectively. Urine culture was obtained from mid-flow urine. Antibacterial treatment was given to the patients with UTI, which was defined by positive urine cultures and/or clinical findings. We grouped the patients as follows: Group A, those treated with SGLT-2i; and Group B, those not treated with SGLT-2i.

Results: A total of 101 patients were included. Median age was 56 (45-67), 56.4% (n = 57) of the patients were female. Urine culture was positive in 54.9% (n = 28) and 16% (n = 8) of Group A (n = 51) and Group B (n = 50), respectively. Of those for whom urine culture was positive, Escherichia coli was isolated in 83.3% (n = 30), and both Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) were isolated in 16.7% (n = 6). Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated only from Group A. The need for and duration of hospitalization were higher in Group A (p < 0.001). UTI was detected in 60 patients. ROC analysis showed that a HbA1c of > 5.8% was associated with UTI with good accuracy (AUC: 0.835, p < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, SGLT-2i use and glucosuria were positive predictors for UTI (p = 0.004, Odds Ratio: 1984.013; and p = 0.028, and Odds Ratio: 12.480, respectively).

Conclusion: Besides the association of HbA1c and BMI with UTI, SGLT-2i use and glucosuria predicted UTI. Urine culture is important with respect to the choice of antibacterial treatment, especially in those patients under SGLT-2i treatment. The effect of SGLT-2i on the development of UTI is independent of baseline BMI score or HbA1c.

Keywords: Diabetes; Infection; Inhibitor; SGLT-2; Type 2; Urinary.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections* / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / chemically induced
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors