Work

Incidence and pattern of antimicrobial resistance of main bacterial isolates from patients with communityacquired urinary tract infections in North of Iraq

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, with Escherichia coli as the leading cause. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has reduced the effectiveness of standard empirical treatments, making continuous monitoring essential. This study evaluated the bacterial causes of community-acquired UTIs and their resistance patterns to commonlyused antibiotics. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to July 2025 on patients presenting with symptoms of community-acquired UTI. Demographic and clinical data were collected with a structured form, and urine samples were subjected to culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Patients with recent hospitalization, urinary procedures, catheterization, anatomical abnormalities, or pregnancy were excluded. Data were analyzed using SPSS v22, applying descriptive and comparative statistics with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Among 453 patients, 509 culture-positive samples were identified; 82% were female. Gram-negative organisms dominated (69.2%), with E. coli as the most frequent pathogen (44.4%). High resistance rates were observed to ampicillin, trimethoprim, and nalidixic acid. In contrast, carbapenem resistance remained low, and nitrofurantoin retained good activity. Staphylococcus haemolyticus showed the highest overall resistance burden. Older age, male sex, and comorbidities such as diabetes, renal insufficiency, and hypertension were significantly associated with increased antimicrobial resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Community-acquired UTI pathogens in Sulaimani showed high resistance to widely used oral antibiotics, while carbapenems and nitrofurantoin remained effective. Higher resistance was especially noted among older adults, men, and patients with diabetes or renal disease. These findings highlight the need for improved empirical therapy and ongoing resistance surveillance.

Source: Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia

DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2026.14715

Authors: Saman Salih Fakhralddin, Proosha Adil Abdullah, Diyan Noori Ibrahim, Koras Bahaaldin Maarouf

Institution: University of Sulaimani

Language: English

Topic: Urinary Tract Infections Management

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $323