The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in community-acquired infections threatens effective treatment and public health outcomes. This multi-center study evaluated resistance patterns among bacterial isolates from 1,200 patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections across five urban hospitals. Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen (68%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (17%). High resistance rates were observed against commonly prescribed antibiotics, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (46%) and ciprofloxacin (39%). Multidrug resistance was detected in 22% of isolates. The study highlights the urgent need for local antimicrobial stewardship programs, routine surveillance, and rational antibiotic prescribing to curb the spread of AMR in community settings.

Keywords:
Antimicrobial Resistance, Urinary Tract Infection, Community Health, Antibiotic Stewardship, Bacterial Pathogens