Analysis of pathogens isolated from urinary tract infections in Barbados.

The isolation of pathogens from urine specimens was surveyed during a six-month period when 1611 urine specimens were examined in the Public Health Laboratory, and 8769 were examined in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Significant growth (defined as > 10(4) organisms/ml urine) was detected in 393 (24.4%) of the urines cultured in the Public Health Laboratory and in 1218 (13.9%) of urines cultured in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The overall isolation rate was 15.5%; Gram-negative bacilli comprised 72.8% of the isolates, Gram-positive cocci 24.3% and yeasts 2.9%. Gram-negative bacilli were more commonly isolated from hospital patients, whereas Gram-positive cocci were relatively more common in community patients. The most common pathogens detected were coliforms (1233 isolates), streptococci (197) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (182); 50% of all isolates were sensitive to amoxycillin, 68% to cephradine, 61% to co-trimoxazole, 62% to nalidixic acid and 79% to nitrofurantoin. Anti-bacterial activity was detected in 130 (8%) of the urine specimens received in the Public Health Laboratory.