Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of Uropathogens in a Tertiary Care Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A...

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent one of the most frequent bacterial infections worldwide, with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) as the predominant uropathogens. The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales has severely limited treatment options, making regional surveillance crucial. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of uropathogens, assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, and evaluate the burden of ESBL-producing organisms among patients presenting with suspected UTIs in a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 19,556 urine cultures from a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and December 2024. Of these, 2629 (13.4%) cultures showed significant bacterial growth, predominantly in females (83.2%) and in the 16-30 year age group. E. coli accounted for 65.9% of isolates, followed by K. pneumoniae (16.8%). ESBL production was detected in 28.5% of E. coli and Klebsiella isolates. ESBL producers exhibited complete resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, whereas carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fosfomycin maintained high efficacy. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole was widespread in both ESBL and non-ESBL isolates. Additionally, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (7%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (2%), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (0.9%) were found. These findings highlight the escalating burden of ESBL-associated UTIs and underscore the urgent need for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, continuous surveillance, and optimized empirical therapy to mitigate the impact of multidrug-resistant uropathogens in clinical practice.