Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospitalized Patients with Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in Isfahan, Iran

Antibiotic resistance against uro-pathogens is a worldwide health concern. The aim of this study was to determine the causative bacteria and antibiotic susceptibility patterns among hospitalized patients with community acquired urinary tract infection (UTI).

This cross-sectional study was performed in 2016-2018 in Isfahan, Iran. Urine samples were examined for strain identification and antimicrobial resistance pattern using standard tests. Stratification was done based on gender and age (<20 and >20 years) groups. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were applied to assess differences in etiology and susceptibility rates between groups.

Among 1180 patients, Escherichia coli was the commonest pathogen (68.1%) followed by Enterococcus spp. (8.8%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (8.0 %). Non-E. coli pathogens were more frequent among males (41.8% versus 24.8% in females, P<0.01) and in those aged under 20 years (61.0% versus 22.2% in older than 20 years, P<0.01). Isolated bacteria revealed high susceptibility to imipenem (94.9%), meropenem (92.2%), and amikacin (91.9%); moderate sensitivity to gentamicin (64.4%), cefepime (52.6%) and ceftazidime (47.2%); and low susceptibility to ceftriaxone (41.8%), cefotaxime (40.0%), ciprofloxacin (38.6%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (31.3%). The sensitivity of isolates to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin was significantly higher in females. Compared to the older age group, uro-pathogens were more susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and gentamicin in patients aged under 20 years.

We found that imipenem, meropenem and amikacin were good choices for empiric therapy of complicated or severe hospitalized patients with community acquired UTI; and gentamicin, cefepime and ceftazidime were acceptable as initial choices in non-severe infections in the area.