Abstract

Objective: To investigate the demographic, clinical, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of E. coli from women with UTIs Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to July 2024 at the Institute of Microbiology, Shah Abdul Latif University and Microbiology Laboratory, Dept. of Pathology, Chandka Medical College (CMC), Larkana. Employing convenience sampling and standard sample size formula, 576 midstream urine specimens were collected from women aged ≥18 years presenting with UTI symptoms. Specimens were cultured on MacConkey agar, with E. coli confirmed via Gram staining, biochemical profiling. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method following CLSI (2023) guidelines. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.
Results: Most of the women were illiterate (91.23%) and housewives (97.37%). The most affected age group was 20-30 years (85.09%), with pregnancy emerging as a significant risk factor (80.70% of cases), especially during the second trimester (34.21%) and among primigravida women (67.54%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed alarmingly high resistance rates against Ampiclox (92.98%), cefaclor (91.23%), fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin: 87.72%; Norfloxacin: 79.82%) and third-generation cephalosporins (Ceftazidime: 58.77%). In contrast, amikacin (71.05% sensitivity) and chloramphenicol (63.16% sensitivity) demonstrated better efficacy.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship to curb empiric use of beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones.

Key words: Urinary tract infections, UTIs, E. coli, antimicrobial resistance, pregnancy.