Antibacterial susceptibility of uropathogens in 3 hospitals, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran, 2002-2003

To determine the frequency and pattern of antibiotic susceptibility of uropathogens in urinary tract infection (UTI) from 3 university hospitals we carried out a retrospective review of urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing from symptomatic outpatients and inpatients during 2002-2003. Of 5600 samples, 703 (12.6%) were culture positive, 38.7% of which were from hospitalized patients. Escherichia coli was the leading cause of UTI in both groups of patients. The rates and roles of other pathogens, including Pseudomonas spp. (5.3%-10.4%), Enterobacter spp. (0%-5.7%), Staphylococcus spp.) 5.4%-26.4%), differed in each hospital. Differences in antibacterial susceptibility patterns were observed. Ampicillin (82%-100%) and co-trimoxazole (50%-90%) resistance were the most frequent. Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus spp. ranged from 17% to 60%.