Are resistance patterns in uropathogens published by microbiological laboratories valid for general practice?

During 7 months from August 1994, 171 urine samples were collected consecut ively in general practice in Western Norway from female patients with suspe cted lower urinary tract infection. For each of the 171 samples, 2 samples from adult females received from general practice at the microbiological la boratory on the same day were selected using a predetermined system. Sample s noted as treatment controls and samples from pregnant patients were disca rded. Bacteriuria was found in 101/171 (59.1%) vs 220/342 (64.3%) of the sa mples. The general practice material contained more bacteriuric samples wit h Escherichia coli (83.2% vs 71.8%, p<0.05) and Staphylococcus saprophyticu s (11.9 vs 6.4%), and fewer with other Gram-negative rods (4.0% vs 15.9%, p <0.01) and enterococci (1.0% vs 5.9%, p<0.01). The frequency of resistant i solates was substantially lower in the samples from general practice for al l antibacterial agents tested: amoxycillin 18.9% vs 23.9%, mecillinam 1.1% vs 4.7%, trimethoprim 12.9% vs 18.5%, cotrimoxazole 12.0% vs 15.4%, sulphon amide 20.0% vs 28.4%, nitrofurantoin 3.0%, vs 9.7% (p<0.05). Data from loca l laboratories exaggerate the resistance problems among uropathogens found in urine samples in general practice.