INTRODUCTION: Understanding the uropathogens causing urinary tract infection (UTI) and their susceptibility to antibiotics is important to physicians who are choosing antibiotic therapy. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the uropathogens causing UTI and their antibiotic susceptibility in females residing in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: The participants were 150 females with UTI that was proven by culture and sensitivity tests. Their mean age was 32 years (SD, 2.4; range, 6-55). There were 8 children and 142 adults. Of the adults, 92 patients were not pregnant and 50 were pregnant. All patients were treated with antimicrobials; the most common was fluoroquinolone for patients who were not pregnant and third-generation cephalosporin for patients who were pregnant. The distribution of uropathogens was compiled. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was completed for each antibiotic administered.
RESULTS: The majority of UTIs occurred in the lower urinary tract for all patients. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen, occurring in 52% of the patients who were pregnant and 53% of the patients who were not pregnant. Klebsiella was the second most commonly occurring pathogen, occurring in 15% and 16% of the patients who were not pregnant and pregnant, respectively. In females who were not pregnant, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus were also relatively common; in females who were pregnant, Staphylococcus epidermidis and nonhemolytic Streptococcus were more frequently found. The antibiotic susceptibility for E. coli ranged from 97% for fluoroquinolone to 48% for cefaclor; nitrofurantion was also high at 96%. Klebsiella had the highest response to gentamicin (80%).
CONCLUSION: E. coli was the most frequently isolated uropathogen in females with UTI, followed by other Gram-negative bacteria. There were some differences in the types of pathogens when compared with previous literature. These may be due to variations in geographic location, patient characteristics, or treatment methodology. Susceptibility rates are essential for determining the most sensitive antimicrobial for the causative organism.
Tarek A Salem, Mohamed H El-Azab
Submitted: November 13, 2010
Accepted for Publication: December 17, 2010
KEYWORDS: Urinary Tract infection; Uropathogen; Antimicrobial.
CORRESPONDENCE: Dr. Tarek Salem, Department of Urology, Suez Canal University, Faculty of Medicine, Ismailia 31911, Egypt ( ).
CITATION: UroToday Int J. 2011 Feb;4(1):art15.
doi: 10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2011.02.15