title: Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of uropathogens in Maluti Adventist Hospital patients, 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are amongst the most common infections encountered globally and are usually treated empirically based on bacterial resistance to antibiotics for a given region. Unfortunately in Lesotho, no published studies are available to guide doctors in the treatment of UTIs. Treatment protocols for Western countries have been adopted, which may not be applicable for this region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of uropathogens in outpatients at the Maluti Adventist Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the outpatient department of the Maluti Adventist Hospital in Mapoteng, Lesotho.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling of patients with clinical symptoms of UTI. Midstream urine samples were screened through chemistry and microscopy, then positive urine samples were cultured. The isolated uropathogens underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing and inclusion continued until 200 culture samples were obtained. Descriptive statistics were used in the data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The top five cultured uropathogens were Escherichia coli (61.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%), Pseudomonasspecies (6.5%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.5%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (5%). The isolated uropathogens showed low sensitivity to cotrimoxazole (32.5%-75.0%) and amoxicillin (33.2%-87.5%) and high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin (84.0%-95.1%) and nitrofurantoin (76.9%-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Maluti setting, cotrimoxazole and amoxicillin should be avoided as first-line drugs for the empirical treatment of community-acquired UTI. We recommend the use of nitrofurantoin as first choice.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mubanga
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Free State. steinbergwj@ufs.ac.za.
authors.forename: Wilhelm J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Francois C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Van Rooyen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016519:Hospitals, Religious; D006801:Humans; D007927:Lesotho; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary