Frequency of Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections in Patients Referring to Rasht Medical Centers and Analysis of Their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Alireza Massiha ¹
• Afsoon Shariat ¹
• Khosro Isazadeh ²

¹ Department of Microbiology, Kaz.C., Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran

² Department of Microbiology, La.C., Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

10.22034/ijmcm.2025.710281

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial diseases and present a significant public health challenge due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Understanding local epidemiology and resistance profiles is essential for guiding empirical treatment and infection control strategies. This descriptive–analytical retrospective study analyzed 391 urine samples collected from patients with suspected UTIs at selected medical centers in Rasht, Iran, over a three-month period. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using standard microbiological techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method, with results interpreted according to CLSI 2023 guidelines. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test and independent t-test. Of the 391 samples, 201 cases (52.4%) had positive urine cultures. Gram-negative bacilli accounted for 84.9% of isolates, while gram-positive cocci comprised 10.7%. Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen and showed the highest resistance to tetracycline (58.5%), whereas tobramycin demonstrated the highest efficacy, with a sensitivity rate of 90.0%. The findings demonstrate a high burden of MDR uropathogens, particularly E. coli, in northern Iran. Continuous local surveillance of antimicrobial resistance patterns is essential to inform empirical therapy, and the implementation of targeted antibiotic stewardship policies is urgently recommended.

Keywords

• Urinary tract infection
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Multidrug resistance
• Escherichia coli
• Iran

Main Subjects

• Infectious diseases

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