Objective: Our objective was to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolated from urinary cultures in Central Laboratory of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Hospital and to examine the differences between antimicrobial susceptibilities of E. coli isolated from different patient groups.

Methods: E. coli isolated from urinary cultures between January 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018 were included in our study. Automated systems, i.e. VITEK® 2 Compact (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) and BD Phoenix (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD, USA) and disk diffusion test were used for the determination of antimicrobial susceptibilities. The patients from whom the bacteria were isolated were divided into groups according to age (<18 years, 18-64 years, and >64 years), gender and patient care (outpatients/inpatients).

Results: The highest susceptibility rates were observed for carbapenems (>99%), fosfomycin (98.5%), nitrofurantoin (98.3%) and amikacin (94.2%), whereas the highest resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (61.3%) and amoxicillin–clavulanate (37.5-45.7%). Antimicrobial resistance rates of isolates from patients aged 65 years and over were higher than those of patients in other age groups, with the exception of piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin and ertapenem. The resistance rates of isolates belonging to male patients were higher than those belonging to female patients for all antimicrobials. Also, the resistance rates of isolates belonging to inpatients were higher than those belonging to outpatients for all antimicrobials. When the rates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli from different age groups were compared, the highest rate (34.2%) was observed among the isolates from patients aged 65 years and over. The rates of ESBL-producing E. coli from males (33.9%) and inpatients (36.3%) were higher than those from females (23.8%) and outpatients (23.3%), respectively.

Conclusions: Antimicrobial susceptibilities of E. coli isolates may vary among different patient groups. Demographic features of patients may guide for selecting the antimicrobials for empiric treatment of urinary tract infections.

Klimik Dergisi. 2020; 33(3): 270-6.

Cite this article as: Mirza HC, Sancak B. [Comparison of antimicrobial susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolated from urinary cultures of different patient groups: A university hospital experience]. Klimik Derg. 2020; 33(3): 270-6. Turkish.