Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (Oct 2007)
Antibiotic resistant rates of Escherichia coli urinary tract isolates in Rize province, Turkey
Abstract
Background: The continuous rise of bacterial resistance to antibiotics complicates treatment of infections. Activities of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) against urinary E. coli isolates vary according to geographical location. Our aim was to define the current prevalence of drug-resistant E. coli among urinary isolates.Methodology: Urine samples from 1,926 patients attending the Rize province hospital in Turkey (summer months of 2002 and 2003) were investigated using antibiotic susceptibility testing.Results: Urinary tract infections were detected in 470 (24.4%) samples (77.7% females). E. coli was the most prevalent bacteria isolated from 346 (73.6%) infected samples of which 285 were from females and 61 from males and the difference was statistically significant [P<0.01; OR = 4.40 (95% CI: 2.57-7.54)]. Other bacteria isolated were Klebsiella spp (4.7%), S. epidermidis (4.3%), Pseudomonas spp (3.8%), Proteus spp (2.8%), non-hemolytic streptococci (2.1%), Enterobacter spp, (1.3%), S. aureus (1.3%) and Enterococcus spp (0.9%). E. coli showed resistance rates of 53% to SXT and 46% to amoxicillin which were higher among isolates from males than females. Ultimately, 34.9% of E. coli isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested, 17.4% were resistant to a single antibiotic and 47.7% to more than one antibiotic.Conclusions: E. coli resistance to SXT in Rize province is higher than the recommended settings for resistance to this drug, a fact that necessitates continuous monitoring of these pathogens for proper therapeutic applications.
