ABSTRACT
Urinary tract infections [UTIs] remain a worldwide infection problem. Geographic variations in pathogen frequency and susceptibility profiles require monitoring to provide information to guide new therapeutic options. The aims of this study were to assess the changes of the prevalence and susceptibility patterns of UTI bacterial pathogens, over a 6-years period. Retrospective study of prevalence of bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility patterns by the disc diffusion technique, was done as defined by the National Committee for Clinical laboratory Standards [NCCLS] which were isolated in cultures of urine of adult patients of Firouzgar Hospital, in 1997-1998 and 2003-2004. Out of 2914 and 3895 urine specimens, 309 [10.6%] and 853 [21.9%] were culture positive in 1997-1998 and 2003-2004, respectively. E coli was the most common urinary isolate [42.1% and 46.9%] in these years. The antibiotic susceptibility rates for all gram negative bacilli in 1997-98 and 2003- 2004 were: Amikacin [87.7%, 94.7%], Ciprofloxacin [91.4%, 87.1%], Nitronirantoine [66.8, 52.9%], Nalidixic Acid [73.1%, 62.6%], Co-trimoxazole [37.5%, 30.6%], Tetracyclin [27.9%, 6.2%], Ampicillin [4%, 1.1%], Gentamicin [72.1%], Ceftizoxime [72.5%] Also the antibiotic susceptibility rates, commonly in community acquired UTIs, were higher than nosocomial UTIs. Overall susceptibility testing demonstrated decreased usefulness of common antibiotics which indicate need to monitoring antibiotics susceptibility and re-evaluation of antibiotics used in the therapy of UTIs. Also strict control on the use of antibiotics and appropriate measures against over the counter availability and self medication is recommended