Retrospective analysis of urine culture results of patients admitted to the emergency department with urinary tract infection symptoms

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to examine the prognostic factors for infection and the approach and demographic data of patients admitted to the emergency department of a university training and research hospital with signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, using the hospital data management system, we analyzed the demographic data, presenting complaints, type of urinary tract infection, comorbid diseases, culture positivity, other laboratory results, imaging reports, and mortality rates of 115 patients admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary care university hospital with symptoms of urinary tract infection. Results: Pyelonephritis and cystitis rates were 47.8% and 52.1%, respectively. Of all patients admitted with pyelonephritis and cystitis, 28.6% were hospitalized. We observed that 18% of the hospitalized cases were admitted to the intensive care unit. The urine culture positivity rate of all cases was 24.3%. The most common microorganisms grown in urine culture were Escherichia coli (E. coli) (50%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (17.8%), and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) (10.7%). In blood culture results, the blood culture positivity rate was 6% and the isolated microorganisms were E. coli (42.8%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (28.5%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was detected in 50% of E. coli and 40% of K. pneumoniae. The total mortality rate was calculated as 1.7% in the whole study group. Conclusion: Urinary tract infections are common in the community and may be fatal when complicated or involving the upper urinary tract. These cases should be evaluated carefully and rapidly in the emergency department.