Antimicrobail Sensitivities ans Causative Organisms of Urinary Tract Infections in a Rural Family Practice

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the antimicrobial sensitivities and the causative organisms of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a rural family practice. Setting: A family pactice in the rural Port St Johns district. Design: Descriptive and prospective. Methods: Urine samples from consecutive patients with symptoms of UTI and pyuria on urine microscopy underwent bacterial culture. Sensitivity testing to antibiotics was performed on cultures yielding SKT colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml)of a single pathogenic organism. Results: UTI was diagnosed in S3 patients, 46 females and 7 males. Escberlcia COH (3") was the commonest organism isolated, Of all organisms isolated, only 15 (28%) were sensitive to ampicillin and 22 (42%) to cotrimoxazoie. All organisms tested were sensitive to fosfomycin, ofloxacin, norloxacin and ciproloxacin and more than 80% of organisms were sensitive tocefaclor, nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid. Organisms were signif icantly less sensitive to ampicillin. co-trimoxazole, cefadroxil, nitrofurantoin and co-amoxiclav. Conclusions: Ampicillin and cotrimoxazoie can no longer be recommended for empirical treatment of UTI, Recommendations are made for antimicrobial treatment of uncomplicated UTIs In primary care in the Port St Johns district.