Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a significant public health hazard for individuals with urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study identified, described, and classified antibiotic-resistant bacterial uropathogens in human urine samples and examined them for UTI risk factors. Between November 2020 and December 2021, 256 suspected UTI patients from the Popular Diagnostic Centre Ltd., northern Bangladesh, were studied. A well-structured questionnaire assessed sociodemographic parameters and risk factors. Early morning urine samples were examined bacteriologically for bacterial isolates. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method evaluated bacterial isolates’ susceptibility to 22 commonly used antibiotics. The frequency of UTIs was 51.56%. The infection rate was higher in females (64.40%) than in males (26.51%). Escherichia coli (41.66%), Enterococcus faecalis (23.48%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (18.93%) were the predominant uropathogens. Antibiograms revealed that imipenem, meropenem, amikacin, netilmicin, nitrofurantoin, gentamicin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and cefepime were effective against the isolated bacteria. Most bacterial strains were resistant to linezolid, cephradine, azithromycin, nalidixic acid, cefuroxime sodium, co-trimoxazole, cefixime, and ceftriaxone. The isolates had a MDR rate of 88.6%. Age, place of residence, marital status, and prior antibiotic use were statistically associated with MDR UTIs. UTI patients often have MDR bacteria in their urine, requiring a comprehensive one-health approach to combating this evolving health issue.

Key words: Urinary tract infections; Bacteriological profile; Antibiogram; Multidrug-resistant bacteria; Risk factors