Rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic bacteria from urinary tract infections in pregnant women

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI) in pregnant women and characterise the uropathogenic bacterial strains associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria in Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS: Between December 2018 and June 2019, we analysed the uropathogenic bacterial strains from midstream urine samples in 80 pregnant women. The age of the pregnant women ranged from 19 to 45 years, and they resided in urban and rural areas. We also recorded socioeconomic factors in this cohort. The isolated strains were phenotypically identified and evaluated for multiple drug resistance (MDR) patterns against recommended antimicrobial drugs. RESULTS: Of the 80 pregnant women, 65 had UTI, reflecting an 81% prevalence of UTI in women during pregnancy. The majority of participants aged 24–35 years, were multipara, and were in their third trimester. Results showed that 67 uropathogenic bacterial strains belonged to Escherichia (31%), Klebsiella (23%), Pseudomonas (16%), Streptococcus (4%), Enterococcus (4%), Staphylococcus (4%), and Proteus (3%) genera, as identified using biochemical characterisation. The highest overall resistance of Escherichia was seen against amoxicillin, pipemidic acid, and ampicillin; for Klebsiella against pipemidic acid, ampicillin, and cefotaxime; and for Pseudomonas against ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime. The three strains with the highest MDR were identified using 16S rRNA as Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain UA17, Escherichia coli strain UA32, and Klebsiella pneumoniae strain UA47. CONCLUSION: In this study, the MDR uropathogenic strains showed the highest resistance pattern. The alarming signs of MDR uropathogenic infections are infrequently addressed and thus, urgent attention to this matter is essential.