Resistance of Uropathogenic Staphylococci to Commonly Used Antimicrobials for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjps.637Keywords:
urinary tract infections, Staphylococci, antibiogram assayAbstract
This study addresses the pressing issue antibiotic resistance in uropathogenic staphylococci secluded
from female patients with acute urinary tract infection (UTIs) in Iraq. Antibiotic resistance, driven by the overuse and
misuse of antimicrobials, presents a major public health challenge worldwide. The research focuses on determining
the resistance patterns of these bacteria to routinely used antibiotics and developing viable therapy choices.
Samples were taken from patients aged 18 to 40 years at Al-Hajj Jalal Hospital in Wasit Province, Iraq, over a six-
month period. Urinalysis, bacterial culturing, biochemical, and molecular identification methods, including 16S rRNA
gene amplification, confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed
using Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method with various antibiotics.
Results revealed a high prevalence of Gram-positive cocci (81.0%), predominantly Staphylococcus species, among
UTI isolates. Alarmingly, staphylococcal isolates exhibited significant resistance to β-lactam antibiotics such as
penicillin (84.4%) and cefoxitin (61.4%). Resistance to other antibiotics, namely gentamicin, norfloxacin, and
trimethoprim were 37.6%, 27.5% and 34.8%, respectively. However, lower resistance rates were observed for
nitrofurantoin (7.3%) and ciprofloxacin (20.1%), supporting their use as first-line therapies.
The study emphasizes the critical need for antimicrobial stewardship, localized resistance monitoring, and routine
susceptibility testing to optimize UTI treatment strategies. Additionally, it advocates for further research to understand
the genetic mechanisms of resistance and explore alternative therapeutic options. These findings underscore the global
urgency of addressing antibiotic resistance to improve patient outcomes in managing UTIs.
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