Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli at a tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common cause of urinary tract infection in humans including cystitis and pyelonephritis. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in UPEC is one of the global public challenges that is due to prevalent use of antibiotics in healthcare setting. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency and antibiotic resistance pattern of UPEC isolated from patients admitted to Modares Hospital in Saveh, Iran. Methods& Materials: In this study, in total 633 isolates were evaluated. UPEC isolates were obtained from patients with urinary tract infection and identified using conventional microbiological protocols. Antibiotic resistance pattern of UPEC against different antibiotic were determined using disk diffusion method. SPSSTM software was used for statistical analysis. Results: In this study, the most sample was related to outpatients and the lowest sample was related to the CCU wards. The highest antibiotic resistance showed against cephalothin (63.8%) and nalidixic acid (62.2%) antibiotics. The highest effective antibiotics for the tested UPEC was nitrofurantoin (90.7%) and gentamicin (77.3%). Cephalothin and nalidixic acid in hospitalized patients in ICU and emergency wards, respectively, showed the highest antibiotic resistance. Out of 633 UPEC, the rate of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) isolates were 343 (54.2%). Conclusion: The result of this study highlighted the role of UPEC as one of the important cause of UTI in individuals. Also, nitrofurantoin then gentamicin are the most effective antibiotics against UPEC infections. Logical prescription of antibiotics and infection control strategies are needed for prevention and control of nosocomial infections especially urinary tract infection.

Keywords

• Antibiotic Resistance; Urinary Tract Infection
• Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.