Update on the resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from urine specimens in a Moroccan hospital: a review of a 7-year period

INTRODUCTION: Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated species in both community and healthcare-associated infections. Our study's purpose was to determine the rates of antibiotic resistance of E. coli isolates in hospital and community populations, track the kinetics of resistance rates of E. coli isolates to major antibiotics, particularly those prescribed for urinary tract infections and study the occurrence and evolution of multi-resistant phenotypes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the Bacteriological Department of the Mohammed V Military Hospital of Instruction, over a period of 7 years. All isolates of E. coli from inpatients and outpatients were included. Identification of bacterial isolates was based on culture, morphological and biochemical identification characteristics. Antibiotic susceptibility was studied using the Mueller Hilton agar diffusion method by using OXOID® type antibiotic discs and interpreted according to the recommendations of EUCAST/CA-SFM 2019. RESULTS: The rate of resistance of E. coli isolates to 3(rd) generation cephalosporins, imipenem and fluoroquinolones was 12%, 1% and 34%, respectively. The difference between the resistance rates of inpatient and outpatient E. coli isolates was statistically significant for most antibiotics (p