Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Staphylococcus aureus Uro-Pathogens Among the General Population in Duhok City, Iraq

Background and aims: Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium responsible for a wide range of infections, colonizing multiple sites in the human body. The rise in antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global public health threat, necessitating urgent intervention from governments and communities. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from urine samples collected at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok, Iraq, focusing on commonly used antibiotics.Methods: Conducted between January 2018 and February 2022, this study analyzed 396 urine samples obtained from patients at Azadi Teaching Hospital, Duhok province, Iraq. The Staphylococcus aureus strains were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the VITEK system.Results: Over the 5-year period, Staphylococcus aureus isolates exhibited the highest resistance rates in 2022 and the highest sensitivity rates in 2019. Erythromycin demonstrated the highest resistance (81.82%), while levofloxacin showed the greatest sensitivity (69.4%). Although gender-based differences in susceptibility were minimal, males generally exhibited slightly higher resistance rates than females.Conclusion: The Staphylococcus aureus isolates from urine samples demonstrated varied antibiotic susceptibility patterns, with high resistance to erythromycin, penicillin, and oxacillin, and high sensitivity to levofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and vancomycin. Vancomycin exhibited the highest sensitivity, while erythromycin had the lowest. These findings may aid physicians and healthcare providers in selecting appropriate antimicrobial treatments in the region.