Pathogenic Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections among Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE

Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common complications in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), leading to increased mortality and increased medical resource utilisation. This study investigated hospital-acquired UTIs in patients with DN, focusing on prevalent pathogens and drug resistance to inform clinical management.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study analysed 141 patients with hospital-acquired UTIs admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022, using the Yidu Cloud database. Among them, 109 had DN, and 32 had nondiabetic nephropathy (NDN). Patient demographics, pathogen distribution, and antibiotic resistance were statistically evaluated.

RESULTS

The incidence of hospital-acquired UTIs was significantly higher in patients with DN compared to those with NDN (p < 0.0001), with a higher prevalence in women (p = 0.004). Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae, were the primary pathogens in patients with DN and NDN. E. coli infections were more common in the DN group (p = 0.017). These pathogens exhibited high susceptibility to carbapenems, β-lactamase inhibitors, amikacin, nitrofurantoin, and minocycline; However, they showed significant resistance to quinolones, cephalosporin, and penicillins.

CONCLUSIONS

Preventing hospital-acquired UTIs in patients with DN is crucial. Effective treatment requires selecting antibacterial drugs based on pathogen resistance profiles.