Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Production in Uropathogens from Renal Disease Patients Admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal

Background. Various antibiotics are prescribed empirically by physicians to cope with infections in renal disease patients. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is often caused by biofilm-forming multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens. This study aimed to analyze the antibiogram of UTI strains from renal disease patients and the biofilm-forming ability of those strains. Methods. 102 patients clinically diagnosed with a UTI and renal disease were recruited into the study from August 2017 to January 2018. Clean-catch midstream urine samples were processed for the isolation and identification of the bacteria following standard methodologies. The antibiogram of the isolates (n = 106) was produced by the KirbyBauer disc diffusion method. Detection of biofilm formation was performed in tissue culture plates. Results. The incidence of a UTI in renal disease was 19.1%. Most patients were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (18.63%), nephrotic syndrome (16.67%), and nephrolithiasis (14.71%). The commonest uropathogens were Escherichia coli (52.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%), and Enterococcus spp. (15.0%). Ceftriaxone was the most common antibiotic prescribed empirically (37%), whereas nitrofurantoin was the most prescribed antibiotic as adjusted therapy (36.1%). Among the first- and second-line antibiotics, most Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to amikacin (70.7%), meropenem (70.7%), cefoperazone-sulbactam (70.0%), piperacillin-tazobactam (67.2%), gentamicin (66.7%), and nitrofurantoin (66.7%). Most Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to doxycycline (90.0%), nitrofurantoin (72.2%), gentamicin (66.7%), and tetracycline (62.5%). All MDR Gram-negative uropathogens were susceptible to colistin sulfate and polymyxin B. Among the 106 isolates, 74.5% produced biofilms and 70.8% were MDR. In 67.0% of cases, including both MDR and biofilm-producing bacteria, the empirical therapy needed adjustment. Conclusions. Aminoglycoside, carbapenem, beta-lactam combination agents, and nitrofuran group of antibiotics may be the optimal first-line empirical therapies for uropathogens in hospitalized renal disease patients. Regular surveillance of resistance patterns and the study of biofilm formation in uropathogens must be performed to ensure effective management of the patients.