Epidemiology of urinary tract infection and antimicrobial resistance in a pediatric hospital in Nepal

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is any infection leading to an inflammatory response in the epithelium of the urinary tract [1]. UTIs affect both males and females of all ages. The occurrences of UTIs are higher in women, which are likely caused by anatomical differences, hormonal effects and behaviors [2]. The cases of UTI among Nepalese patients attending general hospitals ranges from 23.1 to 37.4% [3]. Bacteria are the common etiology of UTIs accounting more than 95% of the cases. Escherichia coli is the most common causative organisms of UTI and is solely responsible for more than 80% of UTI [4].

This study was conducted among children with symptoms of UTI visiting a tertiary healthcare in Nepal to determine spectra of uropathogens, especially E. coli and Klebsiella spp., and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This would help the clinician in using appropriate antibiotics for the clinical management of UTI.

Among total 1599 urine samples processed, 929 (58.1%) samples were collected from male children while 668 (41.8%) samples from female children. Of 1599 samples, only 197 (12.3%) samples were culture positive and hence UTI. Of 197 UTI cases, UTIs were higher in female children, i.e. 120 (60.9%) compared to male children, i.e. 77 (39.1%). UTIs were highest in age group 2–5 years (Table 1).

Rate of UTIs in inpatients and outpatients were similar (Table 2).

Total of seven different species of Gram negative bacteria were isolated. Among them, E. coli, 114 (57.8%) was predominant followed by Klebsiella spp., 62 (31.4%) (Fig. 1).

Most K. oxytoca isolates were resistant to cephalexin, 16 (94.1%) and least were resistant to nitrofurantoin, 4 (23.5%) and amikacin, 4 (23.5%). Likewise, most K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, 35 (77.8%) and least were resistant to amikacin, 4 (8.9) (Fig. 2). Most E. coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin, 82 (71.9%) and least were resistant to nitrofurantoin, 5 (4.4%) (Fig. 3). Higher score of MDR, 109 (61.9%), was observed among isolates (Table 3).

UTIs are frequent in children and may incur adverse consequences [9]. Thus, reliable diagnosis of UTI in children is critical. In our study, only 12.3% of the 1599 urine samples yielded culture positive result. This warrants discordance of clinical and laboratory examination in the hospital. Laboratories choose one diagnostic threshold but there is no universally accepted threshold. We used the threshold of 10⁵ CFU/ml to determine culture positive result. This can miss lower bacterial counts. Higher threshold could have decreased the culture positive result. Lowering the threshold to 10⁴ CFU/ml can produce clinically valuable results [10].

The study population had higher male children compared to female children (male to female ratio 3:2). This was the involuntary recruitment bias. The other bias could be greater parental urge and/or greater doctors’ preference in testing male children than female children. Also, this could be due to greater difficulty in clinically diagnosing male UTI. On contrast, UTIs were higher in female children as compared to male children (female to male ratio = 3:2). UTIs are more common in girls compared to boys due to shorter length of urethra [11]. Also, this could be due to better clinical diagnosis of UTI in girls than boys by doctors. Or this could be due to more likelihood of growth from specimens collected from females, perhaps due to higher rates of contamination of male specimens. This concords with other reports [3, 4, 9, 12]. With the increase in age, female children showed considerable increase in UTI compared to male children. Majority of UTIs were seen in the ages below 6 years of age. Likewise, rate of UTIs was fairly similar in outpatients and inpatients.

Among seven identified Gram negative bacterial species, E. coli (57.8%), was the predominant followed by Klebsiella spp. (31.4%). This concords with other studies [3, 4, 9, 12, 13]. E. coli and K. pneumoniae have emerged as serious pathogens worldwide. UTI occurs when E. coli and/or other gastrointestinal tract flora enters urinary tract [14].

Antibiotics play crucial role in treating such infections as long as the etiological bacteria is susceptible to the antibiotic activity. Thus, determining accurate antibiotic susceptibility is essential in the clinical care of bacterial infections. Bacteria capable of acquiring resistance demands more attention [15]. Most scholars throughout the world are reporting increasing AMR.

Most children are treated empirically before laboratory findings to avoid complications [9]. Both E. coli and Klebsiella spp. showed high resistance to ampicillin. This concord with other studies [3, 4, 9, 12, 13]. Susceptibility of E. coli and K. pneumoniae against different cephalosporins was similar. About 60% isolates were resistance to cephalosporins thus cephalosporins can be treatment option but cannot be relied as reserve drug or empiric drug. But higher generations of cephalosporins could promise effectiveness as shown by lower resistance against cefotaxime, about 40%. In contrast, K. oxytoca showed higher resistance to cephalosporins rendering ineffective for treatment. This further makes cephalosporins antibiotics unlikely for use as reserve 2nd line drug for treatment. Co-trimoxazole is preferred oral antibiotic for treatment of pediatric UTI but only half of the E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates were susceptible. Thus, sulfonamide antibiotics cannot be relied solely for treatment. Ofloxacin was ineffective against half of the E. coli isolates and one-fifth of Klebsiella spp. isolates. This makes fluoroquinolones antibiotics unreliable 2nd line choice as well. Meanwhile, nitrofurantoin and amikacin were effective against most of the E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates. Thus, nitrofurans antibiotics can be relied as 1st line choice for empiric treatment. Nitrofurans is also the economical option as it is comparatively cheaper. Alternatively, aminoglycosides antibiotics can also serve as reasonable choice. These drugs can thus be reserved for emergency use. Higher score of MDR (61.9%) among isolates underlines the higher risks associated with AMR and ask serious counter measures.

Inappropriate policies, poor surveillance, self-medication, poor diagnosis, poor quality of antibiotics, inadequate dose has all attributed to increase in AMR in recent years [16]. Inappropriate use of antibiotics in healthcare has increased the risk of AMR growth. This study was limited to phenotypic AMR detection excluding identification of different beta-lactamases producing bacteria. Genotyping characterization would provide further insight on AMR.

Our findings outline high AMR among common uropathogens in tertiary setting. Varying epidemiology of AMR with time and locales has hindered the effective management of infections. Since, our study was confined to single healthcare setting, only the broader and effective surveillance can establish AMR data for effective clinical management of such pathogens. Such AMR data is not available at present in this region thus, our findings can be referenced for the treatment of UTIs in children.