Evaluation of Treatment Applications and Antibiotic Resistance Rates for Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Turkey and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objective: Increased extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) production is associated with higher rates of community-acquired strains in urinary tract infections (UTI) leading to an increase in the resistance rates, duration of treatment and costs. We aimed to investigate the resistance rates of ESBL-positive urine culture strains in our clinic, reviewed the literature and analysed antibiotics used in UTI treatment in outpatients in Turkiye. Materials and

Methods: 2913 patients who were admitted to the outpatient clinics of Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine and Baskent University Faculty of Medicine were evaluated retrospectively. Data on prescribed antibiotics in outpatients with the diagnosis of UTI from all cities of Turkiye were collected through the Turkish Ministry of Health, Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency.

Results: Out of 563 ESBL-positive (19.3%) urine culture isolates, 450 (79.9%) were Escherichia coli and 89 (15.8%) were Klebsiella sp. Resistance rates were as follows: 98.8% to cefuroxime, 67.6% to ciprofloxacin, 12.5% to fosfomycin, 8.7% to amikacin, 1.4% to meropenem and 15% to nitrofurantoin. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were ciprofloxacin (22.25%), fosfomycin (21.10%) and nitrofurantoin (12.82%).

Conclusion: Our study suggests that the antibiotic resistance rates of most antibiotics prescribed for UTI in Turkiye are above the suggested rate of 10-20% to be used as empirical therapy. Updating and dissemination of guidelines for UTI in the light of antibiotic prescribing and resistance surveillance studies will contribute to the rational use of antibiotics in Turkiye.