Comparative antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli isolated from the urinary tract infection in patients

Escherichia coli is the causative agent of more than 88% of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are common worldwide. Due largely to antibiotic misuse, UTI bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making treatment more challenging and highlighting the necessity of routine resistance monitoring. The objective of the current investigation was to identify and isolate resistant strains of E. coli and examine their antibiogram profiles. Thirty-two strains of E. coli were identified from urine samples of patients with UTIs. The prevalence of E. coli in female specimens was significantly higher compared to male samples. The antibiotic resistance profiles of these microorganisms were assessed against seven classes of antimicrobial drugs, comprising twenty-six antibiotics in total. Nearly 88% of the E. coli strains were resistant to at least three of the tested antibiotics. Resistance to traditional beta-lactams was the highest; however, when beta-lactam combinations were tested, the resistance was significantly reduced. Imipenem, colistin, and polymyxin-B exhibited the highest sensitivity among the isolates, with all E. coli strains showing sensitivity to imipenem. The resistance to macrolides, and tetracyclines was similar, ranging from 28 to 35%. Resistance rates for aminoglycosides and quinolones were 7% and 15%, respectively. Multidrug resistance to at least three antibiotic classes with distinct mechanisms of action was present in 12 strains (37.5%) of isolated E. coli.