Antibiotic sensitivity profiles of uropathogenic E. coli: A prevalence study in UTI patients

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major global public health problem with Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the most common uropathogen. The issue of antibiotic resistance strains is a major factor that complicates the management of UTI, especially in countries such as Bangladesh. Objective: To assess the proportion of total UTIs due to E. coli and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: Urine samples of 110 patients with UTI at Community Based Medical College, Bangladesh, from January to December 2022 were included in this cross-sectional study. E. coli isolates were identified using the standard bacteriological culture method, and the antibiotic susceptibility profile was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion for 17 different antibiotics. Results: E. coli was the most common pathogen isolated, with a prevalence of 72 percent. The prevalent age group was patients aged 51-60 years, contributing 52.7% of the total respondents, and female patients accounted for 86.4%. The antibiotic pattern of resistance was 100% for ampicillin, 90% for cefuroxime, and 70% for the various other antibiotics. The highest sensitivity was achieved by meropenem (90%) and the lowest one by nitrofurantoin (80%). Conclusion: This study provides some evidence of a high percent of antibiotic resistance among uropathogenic E. coli isolates in the Bangladeshi population. The results of this study underscore the importance of monitoring antibiotic resistance patterns, the responsible use of antibiotics, and the prescription of personalized care plans, especially with regard to emerging trends of AMR in UTI care.