Patterns of antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial pathogens among urinary tract infections (UTI) patients in a Pakistani population

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common and frequently encountered serious morbidity that afflicts its toll not only to all segments of human population but also results in increasing antibiotic resistance due to persistence and mis-management of the ailment. Pathogenic organisms’ isolation and determination of antibiotic resistance by bacterial uropathogens in a cross section of patients was investigated at National Institute of Health, Islamabad.  A total of 115 samples were collected from June to the August 2009. Identification was conducted by conventional biochemical tests and API 20E system. Percentage identification of API-20E was 100% for Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniaeawhile 98.9% for E. coli. Antibiotic sensitivity test was analyzed by disc diffusion method using different antibiotics and their zone of inhibition was measured. The bacterial isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (46.98 %) and E. cloacae, methicilline resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (1.20 %). In this study it was found that K. pneumoniae showed highest sensitivity (80%) to cefapime and low susceptibility (13%) to ciprofloxacin, while the highest resistance (60%) to gentamicin and the lowest (6%) to meropenem, nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin was also observed. The susceptibility of S. aureus was highest (64%) to amikacin, augmentin and oxacillin and lower sensitivity for ampicillin and moderate for erythromycin, methicillin, and cefotaxime with 45% outcome. The overall results obtained indicated varied patterns of antibiotic sensitivity and resistance, warranting therefore the judicious and rational use of antibiotic in the routine treatment of UTIs to prevent the recurrence as well as resistant strains.   Key words: Urinary tract infection (UTI), antimicrobial sensitivity, disc diffusion, analytical profile index (API 20E), uropathogens.