Pyelonephritis Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria During Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study

Pyelonephritis during pregnancy represents a significant maternal-fetal risk, particularly in the context of increasing multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. This study aimed to characterize the microbiological profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of MDR pathogens causing pyelonephritis in pregnancy. Secondary objectives included the evaluation of patient characteristics, associated risk factors, and pregnancy outcomes.

A retrospective comparative study was conducted including 171 pregnant patients hospitalized with acute pyelonephritis between 1 January 2017 and 30 April 2025. Thirty-four patients with MDR bacterial infections were compared with 137 patients with infections caused by pathogens with conserved antibiotic susceptibility (Non-MDR).

Patients with MDR pyelonephritis were significantly older than those with Non-MDR infections (mean age 27.76 vs. 25.30 years, p = 0.03). MDR infections were more frequently diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy (58.8% vs. 29.9%, p = 0.003) and affected multiparous women more often (44.1% vs. 19.7%, p = 0.006). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups regarding clinical presentation or laboratory parameters (p > 0.05). Prior antibiotic exposure was significantly more common in the MDR group (85.29% vs. 26.61%, p < 0.001), as was a history of urological procedures, including urinary catheterization (29.41% vs. 15.10%, p = 0.009). For multivariate analysis, two factors were predictive for pyelonephritis with MDR pathogens: previous antibiotic treatment-OR 20.37 (95% CI 2.19-189.88) and urological procedures-OR 13.23 (95% CI 2.24-78-22). Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen in both groups but was isolated more frequently in the Non-MDR cohort (81.75% vs. 58.82%, p = 0.015), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, which appeared more frequently in the study group (23.53% vs. 10.22%, p = 0.011). MDR isolates demonstrated significantly higher resistance rates to all tested antibiotics (p < 0.05). Complete resistance to ampicillin was observed in the MDR group (100%), compared with 58.01% in the Non-MDR group, indicating markedly reduced efficacy of this agent. Adverse neonatal outcomes were more frequent in the MDR group, with higher rates of Apgar scores < 7 at admission (23.5% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.01) and increased neonatal intensive care unit admission (20.6% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.02). For multivariate analysis, pyelonephritis with MDR pathogens was predictive for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission (OR 8.17, 95% CI 2.41-27.67).

These findings highlight the need for the periodic revision of empirical antibiotic protocols and risk-adapted therapeutic strategies in pregnant patients in order to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity.