Community-acquired urinary tract infections in children: Resistance patterns of uropathogens in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the bacterial pathogens and their resistance patterns in children presenting with their first admission for a urinary tract infection (UTI) in a large tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients 0–14 years of age who were admitted for their first community-acquired UTI in a large tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The review covered a 6-year period (2006–2012). RESULTS: Data were obtained from 202 children, of which 162 (80.2%) were female. The most frequently isolated uropathogens were Escherichia coli (75.7%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.9%) and Enterococcus species (3.5%). Sixteen (7.9%) isolates were ESBLs. Among all uropathogens, 68% were resistant to ampicillin, 54% resistant to co-trimoxazole, and 30% resistant/intermediate sensitivity to amoxicillin/clavulinic acid. Overall, there was a low resistance rate to cefotaxime (4.4%). CONCLUSION: E. coli is the predominant uropathogen causing UTIs in children, yet there is a high rate of multidrug-resistant organisms. For children admitted for a community-acquired UTI, a third-generation cephalosporin remains an appropriate empiric antibiotic. Our study and the work of others emphasize the importance of choosing empiric antibiotics for pediatric UTIs based on local resistance patterns.