Antimicrobial susceptibility of uropathogens causing acute uncomplicated cystitis in female outpatients in South Korea: a multicentre study in 2002.

The objective of this study was to obtain data on the susceptibility of pathogens responsible for acute uncomplicated cystitis in South Korea to currently used antimicrobial agents. A total of 239 isolates were obtained from female outpatients with acute uncomplicated cystitis. The most prevalent causative organism was Escherichia coli (79.9%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (4.2%) and Enterobacteriaceae (8.2%). The mean rates of susceptibility to commonly prescribed drugs are ampicillin 35.5%, cefazolin 89.1%, ciprofloxacin 85.7%, and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) 62.1%. Regionally, resistance to TMP/SMX among E. coli now exceeds 30% in all regions. The high prevalence of resistance among uropathogens requires on going surveillance to ensure the provision of effective empirical therapy for acute uncomplicated cystitis.