Predominance of multidrug-resistant bacteria causing urinary tract infections among symptomatic patients in East Africa: a call for action.

Background

In low- and middle-income countries, antibiotics are often prescribed for patients with symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) without microbiological confirmation. Inappropriate antibiotic use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the selection of MDR bacteria. Data on antibiotic susceptibility of cultured bacteria are important in drafting empirical treatment guidelines and monitoring resistance trends, which can prevent the spread of AMR. In East Africa, antibiotic susceptibility data are sparse. To fill the gap, this study reports common microorganisms and their susceptibility patterns isolated from patients with UTI-like symptoms in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Within each country, patients were recruited from three sites that were sociodemographically distinct and representative of different populations.

Methods

UTI was defined by the presence of >10

Results

Microbiologically confirmed UTI was observed in 2653 (35.0%) of the 7583 patients studied. The predominant bacteria were

Conclusions

MDR bacteria are common causes of UTI in patients attending healthcare centres in East African countries, which emphasizes the need for investment in laboratory culture capacity and diagnostic algorithms to improve accuracy of diagnosis that will lead to appropriate antibiotic use to prevent and control AMR.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.