Abstract
Background: Irrational use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance against uropathogens is a global catastrophe. Consequently, it is necessary to identify the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogens while managing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Also, recognizing the susceptibility pattern of the uropathogens is essential for empirical antibiotic therapy. The current study aims to establish the bacterial profile and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern isolated from UTI patients in the northern Balochistan part of Pakistan. Methods: The study was carried out between January 2022 and December 2022. Clean catch midstream urine samples were collected. The isolation and antibiotic susceptibility procedures were performed through standard guidelines for microbiological techniques. One thousand forty-eight samples were collected and produced positive bacterial culture. The SPSS v 26 was used for data coding and descriptive statistics were applied accordingly. Results: Four hundred and forty patients (72%) were between 28 -37 years old; males contribute to (61.3%) of all samples. Microbiological cultures were found in 1048 patients with Escherichia coli being the dominant pathogen (1018, 97.1%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (202, 19.3%). The susceptibility pattern of our study revealed that Cefixime, Norfloxacin, and Nalidixic acid were the antibiotics with the highest resistance rates in bacterial uropathogens, at 100%, 94.0% and 93.7%, respectively. Meropenem, Amikacin, Tazobactam, Fosfomycin and Vancomycin were antibiotics with sensitivity rates exceeding 90%. Conclusion: The bacterial isolates identified in the current study reported high resistance to Cefixime, Norfloxacin and Nalidixic acid (predominantly for Escherichia Coli). This leaves clinicians with very limited options of drugs for the treatment of UTIs. Increased resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in UTIs warrants strict surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic use in the community.
