Prevalence of Uropathogens and their Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern in a Rural Medical College Hospital

Background: Urinary tract infections represent a substantial proportion of patients seen in clinical departments at Medical College Hospitals. They result in considerable morbidity and death in individuals exhibiting heightened antibiotic resistance. This often results in the indiscriminate, unscientific administration of antibiotics, leading to the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospitals. Aim: The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence and sensitivity patterns of different uropathogens and to recommend empirical antibiotics within the clinical environment of a medical college hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective research was conducted over one year (2022-2023), during which 1008 urine samples taken from clinical departments were analyzed at the Microbiology department at a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Urine samples underwent bacterial culture, revealing substantial bacterial growth by the colony count technique. Traditional techniques were used for the identification of bacterial isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted on isolates in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Results: Out of 1008 urine samples, 388 samples (38.49%) exhibited considerable proliferation of uropathogens. The predominant uropathogens discovered were Escherichia coli (37.03%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.5%), Enterococcus species (10.71%), Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (MRCONS) (9.17%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.8%).Multidrug resistance has been shown in many uropathogens, particularly to penicillin’s, fluoroquinolones, and cephalosporins. Conclusion: This research recorded a rise in antibiotic resistance among uropathogens. The empirical selection of antimicrobial agents should be predicated on the antimicrobial sensitivity profiles of the uropathogens endemic to the region. Prudent utilization of antibiotics may assist in mitigating the dissemination of antimicrobial medication resistance amongst the general populace.