Antimicrobial Resistance Rates in Gram-positive Uropathogens in Duhok city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections world-wide. Antibiotic resistance is an important medical problem because there is an increasing trend of antibiotic resistance worldwide making it harder to eliminate uropathogens. Antibiotic resistance shows a geographical variation. Hence, local studies are necessary to determine prevalence of uroptahogens among UTI patients. Thus, this study was conducted to determine prevalence of uropathogens among UTI patients and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern from the data of 12 years period from 2010 to 2022 in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq Materials and methodsThis study was conducted by retrieving 12-year laboratory records between 2010-2022. data were collected from Azadi teaching hospital in Duhok city in Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. uropathogen species were identified by routine laboratory methods. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was performed manually and by Vitek-2 automated susceptibility system. ResultsThe results of gram-positive urine pathogens of 249 patients showed Staphylococcus haemolyticus (20.9%) was the most common isolated pathogen, followed by staphylococcus aureus (7.6%), Streptococcus Agalactiae (6.4%) and Enterococcus spp. (6%). S. haemolyticus had highest resistance to nitrofurantoin (61.5%) and lowest amikacin (34.3%). S. aureus showed highest resistance to penicillin 73.3% and highest sensitivity to amikacin (78.9%).in our study, Streptococcus agalactiae had the highest sensitivity to vancomycin (%87.5). 93.3% of enterococcus spp. were resistant to tetracycline. ConclusionUTIs are more common in female than in male and coagulase-negative Staph species (Staphylococcus spp) are the most commonly isolated pathogens. This study found antimicrobial resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics are high. Hence, an urgent plan to control antimicrobial resistance is necessary in our area.