Frequency and susceptibility profile of pathogens causing urinary tract infection among hospitalized infants and children

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections [UTIs] are one of the most common nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients. Area specific monitoring studies aiming at gaining knowledge about the type of pathogen responsible for UTIs and their resistance patterns, may help the clinician to choose the correct empirical treatment. We aimed to study the type of urinary pathogens isolated from hospitalized patients with 1[st] episode UTI in our locality and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Urine samples were collected from 160 clinically suspected cases of urinary tract infection from inpatient of various clinical units of Pediatric Department, Tanta University Hospitals during the period from January to December 2010. The samples were tested microbiologically by standard procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated pathogens was tested for commonly-used antibiotics by disc diffusion method according to hospital policy. Significant bacteruria was present in 75% of the samples, 16.25% were sterile and 8.75% showed insignificant bacteruria. The most common pathogen were E.coli [55%], Klebsiella spp. [26.6%] and Proteus mirabilis[14.2%]. The mean susceptibility was high for Amikacin [85%], Ceftriaxone [82%], Cefotaxime [80%], Nitrofurantoin[80%], and Nalidixic acid[78%] but low for Ampicillin[21%], Cephalaxin[30%], and Sulphamethoxazol+ Trim eth oprim[37%]. The antibiotics commonly used in UTIs like trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole, ampicillin and cephalexin does not seem to be appropriate for the empirical treatment of hospital acquired UTIs because of its very high rate of resistance. Since the present study was a cross- sectional study, regular monitoring is required to establish reliable information about resistance pattern of urinary pathogens for optimal empirical therapy of patients with UTIs