Evaluation of etiologic agents and antimicrobial resistance pattern of urinary tract infections in the northwest of Iran

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of urinary tract infections as one of the most common bacterial infections and their resistance patterns to used antibiotics. Methods: The current cross sectional study was carried out on urine specimens retrieved from patients with urinary infections in the Central Laboratory of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2013-14. After culture-based identification of isolates, antibiogram was conducted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocol. Results: Out of 56,564 urine specimens, 3,205 (5.7%) were positive in terms of urine culture, 77.3% belonged to women, and 22.7% belonged to men. Moreover, the results showed that Escherichia coli was the most common bacterium responsible for urinary infection. According to the obtained results of antibiogram test, most cases of bacterial resistance were respectively related to ampicillin (74.2%), cephalothin (68.1%), and co-trimoxazole (54%), and the most bacterial sensitivity belonged to amikacin (79%), nitrofurantoin (77.8%), and gentamicin (74.5%), respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that most of the bacteria isolated belonged to the family of Gram negative bacilli. The antibiotic resistance pattern of microorganism is responsible for urinary infections in different regions. Comparing the results of the present study with previous studies carried out in this region and around the world showed an increasing trend. Therefore, it seems necessary to consume antibiotic drugs correctly and reasonably, and administer them based on antibiogram