ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF UROPATHOGENS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

RIHANA BEGUM PATNOOL; Lakshmi K; Thendral R; Sathyabharathi G; Surya A; Parvez S; Adithi Suresh

doi:10.55251/jmbfs.13029

Authors

RIHANA BEGUM PATNOOL Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9160-5037
Lakshmi K Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2460-0073
Thendral R Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9994-6771
Sathyabharathi G Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
Surya A Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
Parvez S Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
Adithi Suresh Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55251/jmbfs.13029

Keywords:

Urinary tract infection, Antibiotic Resistance, uropathogens, Antibiogram, Escherichia coli, tertiary care hospital, India

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, with increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) posing a major therapeutic challenge.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of uropathogens isolated from patients in a tertiary care hospital in South India.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional record-based study was conducted over a six-month period (January–June 2024) using microbiology laboratory data. A total of 390 urine samples were analyzed. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) were performed using standard microbiological procedures in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Only anonymized laboratory records were utilized, and duplicate isolates were excluded. Data were analyzed using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS version 29.

Results: Among 390 samples, 219 (56.2%) showed significant bacterial growth. Escherichia coli (45.2%) was the predominant isolate, followed by Enterococcus faecalis (18.7%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.9%). High resistance was observed to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and cotrimoxazole. Carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and nitrofurantoin demonstrated comparatively higher effectiveness. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed in 53.4% of isolates.

Conclusion: The study provides important phenotypic surveillance data on antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens. The findings support the need for continuous local surveillance and institution-specific antibiogram development to guide empirical therapy, while highlighting the importance of cautious interpretation in the absence of molecular confirmation.