Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of pathogens, the usage of antimicrobial agents, and the sensitivity analysis of antimicrobial agents in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a certain hospital from 2021 to 2023, so as to provide clinical evidence for the selection of antimicrobial agents in clinical patients with UTIs. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on medical records of patients diagnosed with UTI during 2021-2023. Demographic characteristics (gender, age), urine sample data, pathogen distribution, and antimicrobial prescription patterns were collected. Midstream urine specimens submitted to the microbiology laboratory were processed for bacterial culture, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Differences in resistance rates to various antimicrobials were compared among pathogens from different clinical categories. RESULTS: From 2021 to 2023, 623 cases of positive urine culture samples were detected. Gram-negative organisms predominated (489 isolates), particularly Escherichia coli (E. coli, 61.80%, 385 isolates). Gram-positive isolates were mainly Enterococcus faecalis (6.10%, 38 isolates) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecalis, 4.01%, 25 isolates). Gender distribution revealed that E. coli was more frequent in females (69.87%), while other principal pathogens were more common in males. Age analysis showed higher prevalence in females at young and middle age, whereas elderly males predominated (68.60%). Susceptibility testing indicated marked interspecies differences: E. coli showed 81.56% resistance to ampicillin; Proteus mirabilis exhibited 72.73% resistance to levofloxacin; E. faecalis demonstrated 94.74% resistance to tetracycline. Conversely, cefotaxime/clavulanic acid and vancomycin retained good activity against most isolates. CONCLUSION: From 2021 to 2023, E. coli was the leading UTI pathogen. There were significant differences in the susceptibility of various pathogens to antimicrobial agents. It is necessary to regularly monitor the distribution of pathogens causing UTIs and their sensitivity to antimicrobial agents to provide a scientific reference for the rational use of antimicrobial agents during treatment.