FIVE-YEAR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TRENDS AMONG PATHOGENS CAUSING URINARY TRACT INFECTION FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Introduction: Urinary tract infection is the most frequent infection reported worldwide till now. To better understanding regarding epidemiology and emerging antimicrobial resistance among bacterial uropathogens, we studied the demographic distribution and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of microorganisms causing UTI in our local hospital-based study. Materials and Methods:  We analysed the retrospective data of laboratory confirmed UTIs, from January 2017 to December 2021. Causative agents of UTI, along with their demographic profile, distribution and their antibiogram was determined by using conventional methods. On the basis of that, 5-year multiple antibiotic resistance index was calculated to determine the resistance pattern of isolated bacterial uropathogens. Results: During study period, total 9426 samples were received. Out of which, 1133 (12.01%) showed significant bacteriuria with monomicrobial growth. With 64.17% isolation from female patients with predominance age group 16-60 years. From 1133 positive isolates, gram negative and gram positive isolates were reported in 298 (26.30%) and 835 (73.69%) isolates respectively, with predominance of E. coli (52.25%) followed by Enterococcus spp. (18.36%) Klebsiella spp. (8.21%). Multiple antibiotic resistance index over the 5 years study period found to be inconsistent and persistently high. Conclusion: The antimicrobial susceptibility data collected in our study suggest that antibiotic resistance is an emerging and common problem among bacterial uropathogens. This calls for routine and timely proper diagnosis of UTI along with its culture sensitivity results, that will help in definitive treatment rather than prescribing an empirical therapy.