Abstract

Farhat Ullah*, Salman Akbar Malik and Jawad Ahmed

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most prevalent infections worldwide, mostly caused by Escherichia coli. These bacteria also produce enzymes called extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBL) which render penicillins and cephalosporins inactive. The present study included 116 E. coli, isolated from urine of in-patients suffering from UTI. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and ESBL detection were carried out according to Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. Fifteen antibiotics were tested in this study. A total of 66 (56.9%) isolates were found to be ESBL producers. A total of 83% isolates were resistant to 4 or more antibiotics. Imipenem and meropenem showed high potency with 98 and 97% isolates being susceptible, respectively. Susceptibility to gentamicin was 48%, kanamycin 43%, both ofloxacin and enoxacin 38%, ciprofloxacin 35%, doxycycline 18% and to co-trimoxazole only 17%. This study reveals that E. coli isolated from UTI in this region are multi-drug resistant and produce ESBL in large proportions.