| Summary: | Iram Khatoon,1 Surrya Khanam,1 Asima Azam,2 Saima Qadeer,3 Shumaila Naz,4 Najm Ul Hassan5 1Department of Zoology, Women University Swabi, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 3Department of Zoology, Division of Science & Technology, University of Education Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, 54000, Pakistan; 4Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan; 5Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanCorrespondence: Surrya Khanam, Department of Zoology, Women University Swabi, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Tel +923348742560, Email surryiamalik@gmail.comPurpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are of the most common bacterial infections in Pakistan. Rapid increase in antibiotic resistance has resulted in a limited number of treatment options available. This study aimed to determine the incidence patterns of uropathogens, their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and risk factors for UTI among the general population.Methods: This laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and March 2021. Urine samples were collected, cultured and bacterial isolates were identified. Bacterial isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features and risk factors were collected using structured questionnaire.Results: Of 459 urine samples, 299 (65.1%) showed positive urine cultures (105 CFU/mL). Both gram-negative and gram-positive isolates were obtained, with a prevalence of 230 (76.9%) and 69 (23%), respectively. Escherichia coli was the predominant bacteria isolated 146 (48.8%), and it showed most susceptibility to cefoperazone and imipenem. Most of the gram-negative isolates were resistant towards ampicillin. Most risk factors were not significantly associated with UTI, except for age, income, and previous history of hospitalization.Conclusion: UTI is an important problem in the study area, with a prevalence rate of 65%. All bacterial isolates developed resistance towards most antibiotics available on the market. Therefore, there is a need to develop management strategies based on susceptibility pattern of uropathogens. Additionally, proper public education regarding causes of disease transmission and control strategies is required.Keywords: antimicrobial susceptibility, risks factors, urinary tract infections, Pakistan
|
|---|