Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Escherichia coli Isolated from Urine Samples in Umuahia, Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among uropathogenic Escherichia coli poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in regions with limited routine surveillance. This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli isolated from urine samples of female students at the College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, and assessed the presence of plasmids as potential contributors to resistance. A total of 47 midstream urine samples were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. Twelve (25.5%) samples yielded significant growth of E. coli. The isolates exhibited high resistance to cefuroxime (91.7%) and moderate to high resistance to nitrofurantoin, augmentin, and pefloxacin (58.3% each). Gentamicin demonstrated the highest susceptibility (83.3%). Plasmid screening using the TENS procedure revealed that none of the isolates harbored detectable plasmids, suggesting that resistance may be chromosomal-mediated. These findings highlight the need for continuous antimicrobial resistance monitoring and localized antibiotic stewardship.