Antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial strains isolated from urinary tractinfections in Poland

Worldwide data show that there is increasing resistance among urinary tract pathogens to conventional drugs. The aim of this study was to obtain data on susceptibility patterns of pathogens responsible for urinary tract infec tions (UTIs) in Poland to currently used antimicrobial agents. A multicentr e study of 141 pathogens from hospital-acquired infections and 460 pathogen s from community-acquired infections was carried out between July 1998 and May 1999. The most prevalent aetiological agent was Escherichia coli (73.0% ), followed by Proteus spp. (8.9%) and other species of Enterobacteriaceae (9.6%). Few community infections were caused by Gram-positive bacteria (2.2 %). Gram-positive cocci were isolated more frequently from a hospital setti ng (14.1%) and the most common were Enterococcus spp. (8.5%). Pseudomonas a eruginosa was found only among hospital isolates and was responsible for 10 .7% of infections. E. coli isolates from both community and hospital infect ions were highly susceptible to many antimicrobial agents with the exceptio n of those isolates producing extended spectrum beta -lactamases (ESBLs). O f all Enterobacteriaceae tested, 38 strains (6.9%) were capable of producin g ESBLs.