In vitro susceptibility of clinical uropathogens to levofloxacin at the Ghana police hospital

Background: Quinolones are among drugs used in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, there has been an increase in quinolone-resistant uropathogens over the last decade. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity pattern of isolated uropathogens to levofloxacin. Methods: Urine samples (n = 519) from suspected UTI patients were collected from July 2014 to September 2014. Microorganisms with significant growth were identified after initial culturing at 37⁰C for 24 hours. Susceptibility of isolated uropathogens to levofloxacin at a break point of 5 μg was done by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: The prevalence of UTI among sampled patients was 18.3%. Predominant microbial isolates were: Escherichia coli (56.8%), Coliform spp. (24.2%) and Staphylococcus aureus (9.5%). Overall resistance of isolated uropathogens to levofloxacin was 51.6%. Levofloxacin resistance by predominant uropathogens was 63% for E. coli, 34.8% for Coliform spp. and 22.2% for S. aureus. Conclusions: High resistance of some isolated uropathogens to levofloxacin, especially with E. coli was observed in this study. Thus, the need for coordinated susceptibility monitoring of clinical isolates to levofloxacin.