[Sensitivity pattern of E. coli at the National Medical Center of Bajío]

Antimicrobial resistance represents a serious public health problem that has caused an increase in the morbidity and mortality of infections, a greater use of antibiotics and excessive hospitalization costs.

To describe the frequency of Escherichia coli and its pattern of bacterial susceptibility in cultures of blood, urine and other body fluids in a tertiary care hospital.

A quantitative and retrospective test was designed to evaluate the sensitivity pattern of the data obtained in the Microbiology Department. Descriptive statistics were obtained from the sensitivity patterns of the microorganism studied in the period of time analyzed.

The sensitivity pattern of different samples evaluated in the unit (n = 694) was recovered. In the strains analyzed, it was found that about 50% have a positive phenotype for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and that the sensitivity pattern shows that penicillins, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are not adequate antimicrobials to treat infections derived from this microorganism.

The antimicrobial pattern obtained demonstrates the imperative need for rational and well-founded use of antibiotic therapy, highlighted by the great difference with reports in other scientific articles. Investment in mechanisms to confirm these patterns is necessary, which is why no expense should be spared for the identification, typification and classification of disease-causing microorganisms.