Surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from urine samples collected from community patients in a large metropolitan area, 2010-2012

Antibiotic susceptibilities of large cohorts of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from urine collected in the community are scarce. We report the susceptibilities of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from urine of non-selected community populations in a metropolitan area (Leeds and Bradford, UK) over 2 years. Isolates (n=6614) were identified as follows: Escherichia coli (n=5436), Klebsiella spp. (n=525), Proteus mirabilis (n=305), and 15 other species (n=290); 58 isolates were unidentified. Ampicillin resistance was observed in 53% E. coli and 28% P. mirabilis; > 34% E. coli and P. mirabilis were non-susceptible to trimethoprim compared to 20% Klebsiella spp.; nitrofurantoin resistance was observed in 3% E. coli and 15% Klebsiella spp. The occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was low (6%), as was non-susceptibility to carbapenems, cefipime and tigecycline (<2%). Further surveillance is required to monitor this level of resistance and additional clinical studies are needed to understand the impact on the outcome of current empirical prescribing decisions.