Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are some of the most common bacterial infections encountered in community and cause of significant morbidity and high medical cost. Escherichia coli is the most common pathogen belongs to Enterobacteriaceae family responsible for majority of UTI infections. Antimicrobial drugs have been routinely prescribed for empirical treatment of UTIs which has led to a dramatic increase in antibiotic resistance pattern of E. coli. The aim of present study was to analyse the multidrug resistance patterns (MDR) of E. coli isolated from UTI patients.Methods: A total of 80 urine samples collected from the patients suspected of having UTI attending Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MMIMSR), Mullana, Ambala were cultured using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of E.coli was done by using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). MIC of tetracycline, doxycycline, azithromycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and amikacin was done by agar dilution method.Results: Of the total 46 isolates contributing 33 females and 13 males were confirmed as E. coli. About 51.34% of the female patients belonged to the age group 21-40 yr and 53.84% of the male population belonged to 41-80 yr were found to be more susceptible to UTI infection. All isolates confirmed as E.coli were found to be multidrug resistant. 80% of the isolates exhibited MICs higher than 1000mg/L against β-lactams. 20% of the E. coli isolates exhibited MICs higher than 1000mg/L against ciprofloxacin, amikacin and erythromycin. 23% and 95% of E. coli isolates exhibited MICs less than 128 mg/L against doxycycline and levofloxacin respectively.Conclusion: The present study revealed the decreased susceptibility of the E.coli to all drugs. E. coli resistance profile to beta lactams, quinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines and aminoglycosides were also found to be quite high in this study emphasizing the need to educate public about appropriate use of antibiotics.N
