Resumen

VILLARROEL, E. et al. Escherichia coli identified in patients with urinary infections: Antimicrobial sensitivity.. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2002, vol.22, n.1, pp.18-21. ISSN 1315-2556.

Background: E. coli is the microorganism most frequently responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI). It is considered to cause 90% of these infections. UTI's diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of significant bacteriuria. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the sensibility of E. coli isolated in patients with UTI treated at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Methods: A bacteriologic survey was done of the isolates of E. coli in urine cultures processed by the Bacteriologic Section at the hospital. Their respective antimicrobial sensibility patterns was also studied. A relationship was established between the isolation of the bacteria and the demographic background of the patients. Results: 538 strains of E. coli were identified in the same number of patients with urinary tract infections. 409 (76%) of these patients were female and 129 (24%) were males, establishing a statistical significant difference for this variable. 54% of the patients were being treated at the outpatient clinic and at the urology and obstetric services. The antimicrobial susceptibility was: imipenem 100%, cefotaxime 96%, cefepime 95%, gentamicin 94%, cefixime 93% and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 47%. Conclusions: The higher prevalence of UTI in women found in this study reaffirms published information about the prevalence of these infections in the female population. The sensibility of the bacteria to imipenem establishes the usefulness of this antibiotic in the treatment of severe urinary tract infections and sepsis of urinary origin. The increasing resistance shown by E. coli to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole makes it a less effective antibiotic in the treatment of UTI. Changes in the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria make bacteriologic surveys valid for a limited period of time.

Palabras clave : Infección urinaria; Escherichia coli; antimicrobianos.