NOSOCOMIAL URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS, AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS IN SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS AT A REHABILITATION SETTING

Abstract

Objective: To identify frequency of nosocomial urinary tract infections along with their antibiotic susceptibility in spinal cord injury patients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Acute Spinal Ward, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Apr to Oct 2016.

Methodology: Total 120 male and female patients of ages (18-70 years) with acute (>6 months) or chronic (>6 months) spinal cord injury admitted for rehabilitation and developing urinary tract infection 48 hours after admissionwere included. Patients whose culture results have polymicrobic bacteriuria samples, immune deficiency disorder and immunosuppressive therapy were excluded. Urine samples of all admitted patients suspected having urinary tract infections were collected and send to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology for culture sensitivity test showing isolated causative microorganisms and their antibiotics susceptibility.

Results: About 34.58 ± 12.59 years was mean age, 120 patients were included. In these were 97 (80.80%) male and 23 (19.20%) females with male to female ratio of 4.2:1. Frequency of nosocomial urinary tract infections was found in 83 (69.17%) and no nosocomial urinary tract infections in 37 (30.83%) patients. This study shows the frequency of antibiotic susceptibility in spinal cord injury patients as follows; Amikacin in 111 (92.50%), Gentamicin in 108 (90%), Imipenemin 113 (94.17%), Tazocin in 115 (95.83%), Ceftriaxone in 105 (87.50%), Nitrofurantoin in 89 (74.17%) and Ciprofloxacin in 96 (80.0%) patients.

Conclusion: This study shows that frequency of nosocomial urinary tract infections in spinal cord injury patients is high and tazocin and imipenem are the most sensitive antibiotics.