In vitro efficacy of fosfomycin against various urinary isolates

Background: Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections especially in young adults and pregnant women. Due to increase in fluoroquinolones use, empirical therapy in uncomplicated urinary tract infections with this group is now controversial. In recent years, fosfomycin has emerged as an economical and effective single dose agent in uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods: This descriptive laboratory based study was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan. A total of 120 clinical isolates cultured from urine specimens were processed from July 2012 through February 2013. All the isolates were checked for their susceptibility testing against fosfomycin and other routine antibiotics used for urinary pathogens. Results: Out of total 120 urinary isolates, percentages of sensitivities of fosfomycin against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp, Enterobacter spp, Enterococcus spp, and Staphylococcus aureus were 97.2, 63.6, 80, 87.5, 71.4, 83.3, and 80% respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that fosfomycin has reasonably good in-vitro activity against common urinary isolates. Therefore it can reliably be used in uncomplicated urinary tract infections as empirical therapy. However, further studies are needed on larger specimen size to support our evidence.