Bacterial detection and antibiotic resistance pattern of urinary tract infections among Iraqi patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to a spectrum of clinical illnesses, including asymptomatic cases. UTIs are inflammatory disorders induced by bacteria that have multiplied excessively inside the urinary system. The study objective the most prevalent bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections among patients and to evaluate the patterns of antimicrobial resistance. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Hussain Teaching Hospital, Karbala, Iraq. A total of 230 urine samples were collected from patients with suspected urinary tract infections, including 188 females and 42 males. The participants were categorized into four age groups (≤20, 21–30, 31–40, and ≥40 years). Pathogen distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility were evaluated across all age groups. Escherichia coli were the most frequently isolated pathogen, accounting for 42.2% of the total bacterial isolates, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (33.0%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae represented 15.7% and 9.1% of the isolates, respectively. Escherichia coli were the predominant uropathogen, particularly in females, with distribution influenced by gender and urine pH. Susceptibility testing showed variable resistance, while Gentamicin, Imipenem, and Nitrofurantoin were the most effective agents. The findings emphasize the significance of using local resistance surveillance as a means of directing empirical treatment.