Incidence of urinary tract infections and antibiotic resistance in the outpatient setting: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: In 2012–2013, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in women visiting a general practitioner for urinary tract infection (UTI), to estimate the annual incidence of UTIs due to antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli). Methods: A sampling design (stratification, stages and sampling weights) was taken into account in all analyses. Urine analyses were performed for each woman and centralised in one laboratory. Results: Among 538 included women, urine culture confirmed UTI in 75.2 % of cases. E. coli represented 82.8 % of species. Among E. coli, resistance (I + R) was most common to amoxicillin [38 % (95 % confidence interval 31.1–44.5)] and to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole [18.1 % (12.0–24.1)]. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime was lower [1.9 % in both cases, (0.3–3.5)], as it was for nitrofurantoin [0.4 (0–1.0)] and fosfomycin (0). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) represented 1.6 % of E. coli (0.2–2.9). Annual incidence rate of confirmed UTI was estimated at 2400 per 100,000 women (1800–3000). Incidence rates of UTI due to fluoroquinolone-resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli were estimated at 102 per 100,000 women (75–129) and at 32 (24–41), respectively. Conclusions: ESBL had been found in a community population, and even though the rate was low, it represents a warning and confirms that surveillance should continue.