Emergence of multidrug resistance in urinary tract infections patients worldwide (1976–2024): Bibliometric analysis

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a widely recognized global health issue, and the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) among the causative bacteria poses a substantial challenge in their treatment. Aim: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to investigate the research landscape and trends associated with MDR in UTIs patients worldwide within five decades. Methods: A bibliometric analysis of the MDR in UTIs-related research documents indexed in the Scopus database between 1976 and 2024 is presented in this study. The overall number of documents published globally was 4,760, with an average annual production of 99 documents. Results: The United States produced the highest number of documents (n=999), followed by India (n=473), Spain (n=270), Italy (n=255), and China (n=240). The research focus on MDR in UTIs is shifting from the US to Iraq, which is driven by a combination of public health concerns, clinical urgency, and systemic challenges. Since the 2000s, the number of publications has been steadily increasing worldwide. On a global scale, genetics, meropenem, bacterial genes, polymerase chain reaction, and disk diffusion have become hot topics in this field. Conclusion: The current research provides a unique overview of the emergence of multidrug resistance in UTI research at the global level from 1976 through 2024. It is hoped that this study will be useful in guiding future research in this area. • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria represent a growing global health issue, complicating effective treatment options. • The study conducted an extensive bibliometric analysis covering MDR in UTIs research from 1976 to 2024, providing a detailed overview of research trends and developments. • A total of 4,760 research documents were analyzed, with the United States leading in publication output (n=999), followed by significant contributions from India, Spain, Italy, and China. • While the United States currently dominates the research landscape, there is a notable shift towards Iraq becoming a new hub for MDR in UTIs research. • Genetics, meropenem, bacterial genes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and disk diffusion emerged as the primary focus areas in MDR in UTIs research, highlighting critical avenues for future investigation.