Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance in the treatment of urinary tract infections is a major health problem. This study evaluates the pattern of susceptibility of pathogens commonly responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs) to commonly used antimicrobial agents in Benin City. Midstream urine samples of 700 patients (300 males and 400 females), who were attending clinics in a 550-bed University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, between April 2003 to March 2004 were examined. Susceptibility of the urine bacteria isolates to twelve commonly used antibiotics was investigated. Eight bacteria isolates were recovered from 49.5% of the patients (18.1% of males and 31.4% of females). These were Escherichia coli (19.7%),Klebsiella aerogenes (15.1%), Proteus mirabilis (6.7%), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (2.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.3%), Streptococcus faecalis(1.3%), Providence stuartii (1%), and Alkaligenes faecalis (1%). All the isolates exhibited a significantly high resistance to tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, amoxycillin and cefuroxime but were either moderately or highly sensitive to the quinolones and nitrofurantoin. We conclude that majority of the antimicrobial agents that are commonly used to treat UTIs in the hospitals are no longer effective. Therefore, the development and strict management of antimicrobial policy, and surveillance for resistant organisms should be given priority in Nigeria.

Key words: Urinary tract infections, antimicrobial agents, bacterial isolates.