Study of Nitrofurantoin Susceptibility in Urinary Pathogens at Tertiary Care Hospital, Gujarat.

Introduction: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are common infections, especially among women, typically caused by bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella species. These infections can range from mild to severe and are a significant burden on healthcare systems. The rise of multidrugresistant (MDR) organisms, particularly those producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), has made treatment more challenging, especially in countries like India. As newer antibiotics become less effective and development of new ones slows, attention is shifting back to older drugs like nitrofurantoin. Aim: This study aims to assess the susceptibility trends of urinary isolates to panel of antibiotics with particular reference to nitrofurantoin. Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in microbiology department, at a tertiary care hospital, Jamnagar from July 2024 to December 2024. Urine samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar and examined for bacterial growth by various microbiological methods on the next day. After identifying the bacterial pathogen, antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Nitrofurantoin was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar, following CLSI guidelines. A total of 761 culture-positive cases were evaluated for Nitrofurantoin susceptibility. Results: Out of the 2645 total urine samples received, 860 (32.51%) were culture positive and out of total culture positive 761 were evaluated for nitrofurantoin susceptibility. From 761 samples evaluated 710 were gram negative and 51 gram positive isolates. Nitrofurantoin susceptibility for E.coli was 89.57%, for K.pneumoniae 71.16%, for Enterococcus species was 67.44% and for S.aureus 87.50%. Conclusion: Nitrofurantoin continues to be an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of urinary tract infections, particularly against common uropathogens like E.coli and S.aureus. Nitrofurantoin as a valuable options for empirical treatment of urinary tract infecton, especially in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance