Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a prevalent community-onset bacterial ailment, with Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) as the primary causative agent. However, the escalating emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge in managing these infections, potentially leading to therapeutic impasses. Global estimates attribute approximately 700,000 annual deaths to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), projecting a staggering 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if current trends persist. This retrospective analysis, conducted at the Microbiology Department of DRPGMC Kangra, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, from June 2021 to July 2023, scrutinized urine culture results following CLSI guidelines. A descriptive overview of urine sample culture distributions between July 2021 to June 2022 and July 2022 to June 2023 revealed a substantial influx of samples: 7341 (36.8%) and 12,607 (63.2%) respectively. Predominantly, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas species comprised the major isolates. Notably, all isolates exhibited a discernible decline in antimicrobial sensitivity, underscoring a worrying trend of resistance proliferation. The mounting rates of antibiotic resistance pose a daunting challenge to clinicians, limiting viable treatment options for UTIs caused by these multi-drug resistant organisms. Contributory factors including inappropriate broad-spectrum antibiotic use, inadequate hygiene practices, immunosuppression, and prolonged hospital stay further exacerbate the risk of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) infections.