Antibiogram of Escherichia coli recovered from urine samples of patients attending National Hospital Abuja

Abstract

Globally, urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank as one of the most frequent bacterial infections, with Escherichia coli (E. coli) established as the primary causative pathogen. Effective clinical management is increasingly challenged by the growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant E. coli, particularly in developing nations where antibiotics are often prescribed empirically. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiogram of Escherichia coli recovered from urine samples of patients attending National Hospital Abuja. A total of 80 urine samples were collected using standard clean-catch midstream procedures from patients exhibiting symptoms of UTIs. Samples were cultured on MacConkey and CLED agars, and isolates showing typical morphological and biochemical characteristics were identified as E. coli. Confirmation was based on standard biochemical tests (IMViC: Indole +, Catalase +, Voges- Coagulase Test –, Citrate –). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar, following CLSI guidelines. Out of the 80 samples analyzed, 56 (70%) yielded positive results for E. coli. The antibiotic susceptibility results revealed high resistance to several commonly prescribed antibiotics: Ampicillin (89.3%), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic aid (85.7%), Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (82.1%), Cefuroxime (78.6%), and Ceftazidime (75.0%). In contrast, lower resistance rates were observed for Nitrofurantoin (10.7%), Ofloxacin (14.3%), Ciprofloxacin (17.9%), and Gentamicin (21.4%). These findings indicate that E. coli continues to be the leading uropathogen, with alarming high rates of resistance to beta lactam antibiotics and sulfonamides. The results underscore the urgent need for updated treatment guidelines based on local antibiograms, routine susceptibility testing, and strict antibiotic stewardship. Public health measures to curb the misuse of antibiotics and further research into resistance mechanisms are also recommended. This study contributes valuable data to the growing evidence of antimicrobial resistance among uropathogenic E. coli in Nigeria and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based therapeutic decisions in clinical practice.