Antibiogram pattern of recurrent urinary tract infections in kidney transplant patients: a single-center cohort study.

Abstract

Background: Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common complication among renal transplant recipients and can significantly affect patient outcomes. This study investigates the antibiogram patterns of uropathogens in this population to improve treatment strategies.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 58 renal transplant recipients diagnosed with recurrent UTIs. Pathogen types and antibiotic sensitivity profiles were documented using VITEK2 (bioMérieux). Inclusion criteria required that patients had undergone renal transplantation within the previous 5 years, experienced at least one confirmed UTI episode, and had complete antibiogram profiles. Only bacterial infections confirmed by both positive cultures and symptoms were included; cases with negative cultures or asymptomatic bacteriuria were excluded.

Results: Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen (58%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (16%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10%). Notably, high resistance rates were observed against commonly used antibiotics; for example, E. coli exhibited 100% resistance to ampicillin and cefazolin. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in resistance patterns among the various microorganisms, highlighting the prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the urgent need for continuous monitoring of antibiogram patterns and the development of disease-specific antibiograms tailored to renal transplant recipients to optimize treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes. The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance indicates that empirical antibiotic guidelines must be revised to ensure effective management of UTIs in this vulnerable population.