OCCURRENCE AND ANTIBIOGRAM STUDIES OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA FROM URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen associated with complicated and healthcare-associated urinary tract infections. Its intrinsic resistance, capacity to acquire additional resistance mechanisms, and persistence in moist clinical environments can limit treatment options and increase the risk of therapeutic failure. Local surveillance is therefore essential because antimicrobial susceptibility patterns vary across institutions and geographical areas. Reliable regional data can support empirical treatment, antimicrobial stewardship, and timely selection of effective antipseudomonal therapy for affected patients. Objective: The study determined the occurrence of P. aeruginosa in urine specimens from patients with suspected urinary tract infection and assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of confirmed isolates. Methods: A multicentre, laboratory-based cross-sectional study processed 565 clean-catch midstream urine specimens collected from four public and private laboratories in Punjab, Pakistan, between January and March 2020. Specimens were cultured on cetrimide agar, and suspected isolates were identified through colony morphology, Gram staining, motility, and biochemical testing. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 14 agents was assessed by the modified Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method using CLSI 2019 interpretive criteria. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. Results: Fifty-two specimens were positive for confirmed P. aeruginosa, giving an occurrence of 9.2%. Of the confirmed isolates, 30 (57.7%) were obtained from females and 22 (42.3%) from males. Susceptibility was highest to colistin at 100%, followed by tobramycin at 88.5%, meropenem at 78.8%, piperacillin–tazobactam and cefepime at 73.1% each, amikacin at 71.2%, imipenem at 69.2%, and gentamicin at 67.3%. Resistance was highest to amoxicillin–clavulanate at 94.2% and ceftriaxone at 82.7%, followed by levofloxacin at 53.8%, ofloxacin at 50.0%, ciprofloxacin at 46.2%, and ceftazidime at 44.2%. Conclusion: P. aeruginosa showed substantial variation in antimicrobial susceptibility, supporting culture-guided therapy and regular local antibiogram surveillance. Rational prescribing and strengthened antimicrobial stewardship remain necessary to limit further resistance and preserve effective treatment options. Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Urinary Tract Infections; Urine