Antimicrobial resistance of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in northern Utah

To evaluate antimicrobial resistance in uropathogenic bacteria in northern Utah.

One hundred twenty bacterial isolates from community-acquired UTI in the northern Utah area (Davis and Weber Counties) were tested. Samples were taken from otherwise healthy women, ages 18 to 50. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT/TMP), ciprofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin comprised the process.

The Clinical Laboratory Science Department at Weber State University, with samples coming from clinics in the northern Utah area (Davis and Weber Counties).

Urine samples were taken from otherwise healthy women, ages 18 to 50, who suffered from uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Antimicrobial resistance was measured using antimicrobial susceptibility testing and shown with other national resistance rates.

Of bacterial isolates, 21.3% were resistant to SXT/TMP, 14.4% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 13.9% were resistant to nitrofurantoin. The resistance rates for ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin were acceptable for empirical UTI treatment (< 20% resistance), but local bacterial populations were found to demonstrate an increase in resistance to these two drugs as compared to previously observed national data. SXT/TMP resistance was above the recommended resistance threshold of 20% for effective empirical treatment, as advised by the IDSA.

Results suggest that uncomplicated community-acquired UTI be treated with nitrofurantoin. Other recommendations include continued monitoring of local uropathogenic antimicrobial resistance.