Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria causing urinary tract infections in Youssef Hospital Center: first report from Akkar governorate, North of Lebanon

Background. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common infection feature worldwide.   Infected patients are usually treated empirically treated without culture or antibiotics susceptibility testing, and which may lead to increase antibiotic resistance level. This study aims to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of common uropathogenic bacteria isolated at Youssef Hospital Center, Akkar governorate, North of Lebanon. Methods. Spot midstream of urine samples from 9662 patients with UTI symptoms who came for medical investigation to Youssef Hospital Center located in Akkar governorate.  Urine specimens were collected in sterile plastic bottles. Culture, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using conventional tools according to the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Results.  A total of 1009 bacterial uropathogens were isolated. Escherichia coli was most presented (72.5%) of all isolates, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.2%), Enterococcus spp. (5.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.5%), Proteus spp. (3%), Enterobacter spp. (2%), Staphylococcus aureus (2%), Streptococcus agalactiae (1.6%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (0.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii(0.2%) and Providencia rettgeri (0.1%). Moreover, the mean antibiotic resistance rates of isolates was relatively high, but comparable to previously published data in Lebanon. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation reporting epidemiological data regarding the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial uropathogens isolated from patients in the Akkar governorate. Our data indicated the urgent need of a strategic plan to tackle antibiotic resistance, particularly in deprived regions with poor healthcare centers.   Keywords: Uropathogens, Epidemiology, Antibiotic susceptibility, Risk factors, Akkargovernorate, North Lebanon.