Introduction: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) represent one of the most common microbial diseases affecting individuals across age groups. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological profile and antibiotic utilization patterns among UTI patients at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research (MMIMSR), Mullana, Ambala. The study duration was from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2021. A total of 323 patients aged 12 years and above with cultureconfirmed UTIs receiving antimicrobial treatment were included. Data collected included demographics, urine culture results, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Results: Out of 323 urine samples analyzed, 165 (51.08%) showed significant microbial growth. The majority of positive cases were from females (54.7%) and patients aged 50–70 years. Escherichia coli (44%) was the most prevalent organism, followed by Enterococcus spp. (11.14%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.04%), and Staphylococcus aureus (6.19%). Gram-negative isolates exhibited high resistance to ampicillin (70%) and nalidixic acid (10.5%), but were more sensitive to nitrofurantoin (10.8%), imipenem (8.6%), and meropenem (7.4%). Grampositive organisms showed sensitivity to tigecycline (6.5%), linezolid (7.1%), and sulfamethoxazole (7.7%). Discussion: The study demonstrates a significant prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in UTIs. Escherichia coli remains the most frequent uropathogen. The findings underscore the importance of regular microbiological surveillance and sensitivity profiling to inform empirical treatment decisions. The inclusion of patients aged 12 and above ensures broader representation across age demographics. Conclusion: UTIs in tertiary care settings are predominantly caused by Escherichia coli, with varying levels of antibiotic resistance. Local sensitivity patterns should guide empirical treatment. The implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs is essential to combat the rising trend of antimicrobial resistance.
Dagar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.