Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections: Insights from Hospitalized Children in Sudan
Reem Abass Babiker Abass
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, National University, Sudan.
Husham M Taha Aloob
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Dongla University, Sudan.
Samia S Mohamed Ismail
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dongla University, Sudan.
Amira H Arman
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dongla University, Sudan.
Ahmed AbdElhadi Abdlhamed Ibrahem
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dongla University, Sudan.
Abdelhakam H. Ali *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Al Butana, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial diseases in children, affecting 3–5% of girls and 1% of boys, and leading to significant antibiotic exposure in this population. Initial UTI treatment is often empirical, based on symptomatology without microbiological confirmation.
Objective: This study aimed to identify the causative agents of UTIs in children, evaluate antimicrobial resistance rates, and recommend appropriate antibiotics.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 67 urine samples collected from hospitalized children at Gaafar Bin Ouf Children's Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Samples were processed for bacterial isolation, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer method.
Results: Among the isolates, 24 (35.8%) were Staphylococcus aureus, 20 (29.9%) Klebsiella spp., 14 (20.9%) Escherichia coli, 8 (11.9%) Pseudomonas spp., and 1 (1.5%) Proteus spp. The highest resistance rates were observed for Amoxyclav (68.7%) and Erythromycin (61.2%), while Gentamicin (40.3%), Ciprofloxacin (43.3%), and Penicillin (46.3%) showed lower resistance rates.
Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus was the most common UTI pathogen in hospitalized children, with high resistance rates to Amoxyclav and Erythromycin. These findings highlight the need for regular resistance monitoring and revising empirical antibiotic protocols to improve treatment outcomes.
Keywords: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, amoxyclav, erythromycin