Bacteria Isolated from Urine Cultures in Children and Their Antibiotic Sensitivities

Aim: This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from urine cultures of pediatric patients and to assist clinicians in empirical treatment.Material and Methods: Antibiotic resistance rates of bacteria isolated from urine samples of pediatric patients aged 0-17 years between January 1, 2021, and June 1, 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. Urine samples were inoculated onto 5% sheep blood agar and eosin-methylene blue agar media and incubated at 35.5±1°C for 18-24 hours. Samples with ≥105 colony growth were included in the study. Bacterial identification and antibiogram tests were performed using a fully automated device (Vitek2, bioMérieux, France).Results: In urine cultures of a total of 1128 patients, 372 (33%) boys and 756 (67%) girls, the most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (49.7%), Klebsiella spp. (14.2%), and Enterococcus spp. (11.2%), respectively. The highest resistance in E. coli was observed against ampicillin (65.6%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (44.8%), cefuroxime (39.9%), cefixim (38.4%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (32.7%), ceftriaxone (28.3%), and cefotaxim (28.3%). Bacterial growth in urine cultures was most common in the 0-2 and 6-11 year age groups. E. coli was less common in the 0-2 year age group compared to other age groups, while conversely, Klebsiella spp. was more common in the 0-2 year age group compared to other age groups. Among Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus spp. was most common in the 0-5 year age group, and Streptococcus spp. was most common in the 12-17 year age group.Conclusion: Considering that resistance rates may show regional differences, it is thought that these results will contribute to the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections seen in pediatric patients in our region and to rational antibiotic use policies.