Phenotypic profile of Escherichia coli strains involved in urinary tract infections in Togo

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major global public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where antibiotic misuse is widespread. Understanding local resistance patterns is essential for guiding effective treatment strategies. This study aims to characterize antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, ESBL prevalence, and MDR/XDR/PDR phenotypes among Escherichia coli strains involved in urinary tract infections in Togo. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to characterize resistance profiles and sociodemographic data. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 323 bacterial isolates collected from patients of different age groups and both sexes. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using standard microbiological methods. Resistance profiles were analyzed, and isolates were classified as MDR or XDR according to established criteria. Among 323 E. coli isolates, Females were more affected than males, accounting for 59.4% of cases. The most affected group was patients aged 60–80 years (50.2%) out of the total population. The analysis of the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the collected strains revealed particularly high resistance rates to certain antibiotic classes. Penicillins showed the highest resistance rate (98.5%), followed by fluoroquinolones (94.1%), penicillin–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (92.6%), and cephalosporins (91%). Sulfonamides also exhibited a high resistance rate (87.6%). Substantial resistance was also observed for monobactams (78.3%) and aminoglycosides (69.3%). In contrast, markedly lower resistance rates were found for phenicols (26.3%), phosphonate (10.5%), and especially carbapenems (3.7%), which remain the most active agents overall among the tested options. Out of 323 strains, 95 (29.4%) were ESBL-producing. This study highlights a critical level of antimicrobial resistance, characterized by the loss of effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics and a high prevalence of MDR, XDR and PDR organisms. These findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, improved surveillance systems, and stricter regulation of antibiotic use to limit the spread of resistant bacteria.