Evaluation of Therapy Prescribed for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection in Patients in an Emergency Department

Abstract

Specific Aims: 1• Determine the results of urine culture and susceptibility testing for patients with uncomplicated UTI at an emergency department 2• Determine empiric antibacterial agents prescribed for treatment of uncomplicated UTI in the emergency department 3• Compare pathogen susceptibility pattern specific for patients with uncomplicated UTI compared to the overall institution antibiogram Examine the use of cephalexin for uncomplicated UTI in emergency department patients Methods: A retrospective electronic medical records of adult female patients admitted to University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, emergency department with a diagnosis of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011 were collected. Different aspects of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) were characterized, and prescriptions for empiric antibiotic treatment were recorded. Culture results and susceptibility reports as well as antibacterial treatment decisions were studied to evaluate types of pathogens and resistance patterns along with therapy prescribed. The data was managed and analyzed by using SAS. All data was tabulated and described using summary statistics. Main Results: The dominant isolate of the study population was E.coli (88%). Cephalexin was prescribed 76% of the time, nitrofurantoin 8.4%, ciprofloxacin 7.6%, and TMP/SMX 5% of the time. The susceptibility rate of ampicillin was 50%, cefazolin 91%, ciprofloxacin 98%, nitrofurantoin 92%, and TMP/SMX 76%. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the resistant rate of TMP/SMX exceeded 20%; however, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurntoin susceptibility remains high. Cephalexin was the most commonly prescribed treatment, but not included in the antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) panel.