Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Amongst Uropathogens from Coimbatore: A Single-Centre Study

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a major threat and is increasing worldwide. The increasing prevalence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria make the empirical treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) more difficult. The aim of the study is to find the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of pathogens causing urinary tract infection and to help improve the effectiveness of empirical treatment. The pathogenic bacteria cultures were isolated from the patients with urinary tract infections in the district of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern had been examined using ten different standard antibiotic discs. The antimicrobial activity was performed using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. The results had shown a considerable increase in the resistance pattern of the uropathogens. Around 80% of the pathogens were being highly resistant to most of the antibiotics studied. Among the antibiotics, Imipenem being most effective followed by Gentamycin. Ampicillin was found to be the least effective. Most of the pathogens are resistant to more than three different classes of antibiotics. Present data reveal a steady emergence of multidrug resistance among the uropathogens in this region. Frequent multi-centre studies are required to understand the development of antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens as well as to know the effectiveness of the antibiotics prescribed. Situation urges to develop better antimicrobial agents with minimal or no side effects.