Distribution and Resistance Trends of Community Associated Urinary Tract Pathogens in Sharjah, UAE

Objective: To describe the spectrum of etiologic agents causing community associated UTI and their antimicrobial resistance trends in a large teaching hospital in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Methods: A retrospective review of the microbiology laboratory records of four hundred ninety two cases of community associated UTI between April 2006 and March 2007 was carried out. Etiologic agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern were analyzed. Results: A wide spectrum of uropathogens was isolated of which the leading etiologic agents of community associated UTI were Escherichia coli (207 strains) and Klebsiella species (90 strains). Sixty-six per cent of Gram-negative bacilli were resistant to amoxicillin, 58.5% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and more than 50% were resistant to cephalexin. How- ever, resistance rate to antimicrobials like ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone remain relatively low 9.7% and 7.6% respectively. Conclusions: Escherichia coli remains the leading cause of community associated UTI. In-vitro antimicrobial resistance pattern of the isolates revealed that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cephalexin and amoxycillin the commonly used first- line antimicrobials were becoming less and less effective in their treatment. This information can help in changing preferences of suitable antimicrobial agent in treatment of community associated UTI.