JOURNAL CRITIQUE
Hospital Assignment:
Name:
Isolation and identification of Escherichia coli from urine samples and their
Journal Article Title:
antibiotic susceptibility pattern
Elements influencing the believability of the
research
Writing Style
● Is the report well written – concise,
grammatically correct, avoid the
use of jargon? It is well laid out
and organized?
Author
● Do the researcher(s’) qualifications
or positions indicate a degree of
knowledge in this particular field?
Date Submitted:
Class number:
YES NO Comments and Evidences
The research is concise, clearly laid out and
organized that uses grammatically correct
language. Scientific journals often use jargon
which cannot be avoided, especially in this
journal that talks about the identification of
Escherichia coli in different urine specimens
that are diagnosed with UTI and its antibiotic
susceptibility patterns.
The study was concise, well-organized as the
flow was easy to follow. Although jargons
were used because of the nature of the study,
it was still understandable, especially with a
medical technology background as well as
from context because everything was clearly
and briefly explained.
The journal provided concise, well-written and
grammatically correct information. The
authors presented the given topic in a
comprehensive way. It utilized correct
punctuation marks, proper grammar and
standardized words which help in eliminating
possible confusions regarding the study.
Although the authors used medical jargons, it
was discussed through a deliberate manner.
The jargons were necessary because the
nature of the study requires its usage. The
report journal was well laid out and organized
since the ideas were expressed logically
wherein the authors’ sentences were coherent
with one another; making the readers follow
the flow of information.
✓ Based on the first page of the study paper, it
indicates the researchers of the study and their
affiliation. For example, Shafiq Ur Rahman,
Mushtaq Ahmad, and Baitul Islam are all from the
Department of Microbiology, Hazara University,
Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Since
the journal focuses on microbiology it
 demonstrates that researchers were
knowledgeable in the field that the journal is about.

Yes, the researchers are regarded as

qualified and reliable sources in the field of
science. They are currently working in the
following departments – Department of
Microbiology and College of Life Sciences, in
different known universities around Pakistan
and China. With their proficiency in the
discipline of microbiology, specifically
entomology and zoology, the researchers
continue to give time for publications and
further projects. Furthermore, they cited
scholarly sources and related studies in their
academic research which adds credibility to
the paper.

V1
The title was clear, accurate, and
Report Title unambiguous. It clearly communicates the
● Is the title clear, accurate, and study's topic and objective, which was to
unambiguous? isolate and identify etiological agents from
clinical samples and assess their susceptibility
to commonly used antibiotics.
V1

Abstract The abstract, seen on page 2, offered a complete

overview of the research and included the most
● Does the abstract offer a clear important aspects such as the research problem
overview of the study including the ✔ and objectives, samples used, methodology, and
results. However, author recommendations were
research problem, sample, not included in the abstract. Overall, the abstract
methodology, finding, and provided a good summary of study, which can give
recommendations? readers a definite idea on what to expect from the
contents of the paper. .

Elements influencing the robustness of the

YES
research
Purpose/Research Problem
● Is the purpose of the study or
research problem clearly stated?
NO Comments and Evidences
E. coli is known to be a common cause of UTI,
which is an infection that is contagious to
humans all over the world. It was mentioned
that 50% of hospital-acquired UTI is caused by
E. coli. Furthermore, factors such as gender,
age, urological instruments, and
immunosuppression affect the prevalence of
UTI. Antibiotic resistance was also said to vary
and be diverse to different communities. The
limited national systematic surveillance on
resistance to antibiotic drugs, non-evidence

Logical Consistency
● Does the research report follow
the steps of the research process
in a logical manner?
base prescriptions, and unsatisfactory data
contribute to measure the problem.
V1
The problem of the research was identified in
the introduction of the paper. It was stated that
UTI is one of the most serious and contagious
infections all around the globe, and one of its
most common etiological agents is E. coli.
Furthermore, in the author’s home country,
Pakistan, antibiotic resistance is rampant as
antibiotics are commonly misused and abused.
This study was created to help future
physicians to determine suitable antibiotics for
treatment of UTI.
The research report followed the steps of the
research process in a logical manner by
providing first the definition of UTI and its
effects to humans globally in the introduction
section. Furthermore, the relevance of E. coli
to this infection was also discussed alongside
the antibiotic treatment and the resistance
associated with it. In the materials and
methods section, the instrument and
procedures were covered. The next section is
the about the obtained results which is then
followed by the discussion wherein the results
were interpreted. Lastly, the conclusion was
drawn based on the findings of the study.
---------
V2
The research process includes processes
such as problem identification, literature
review, problem delineation, definition of
terminologies and ideologies, sample
population definition, method specification, and
data analysis ("Steps of the research process",
2018). Upon reading the article and
considering the aforementioned parts of the
research process, it can be said that the study
was able to follow the phases of the research

Literature Review
● Is the review logically organized
and offers a balanced critical
analysis of the literature?
process in a logical manner.
The problem under investigation had been
successfully recognized and characterized in
the study, albeit not clearly. The study's main
objective was also explicitly stated in the last
paragraph of the introduction to the study.
Furthermore, the study made extensive use of
literature reviews to support the generated
results, the discussion and the formulated
conclusions. The study also succeeded in
defining terms and ideologies in the study,
allowing readers to comprehend it readily. The
sampling design and methodology used was
also explicitly stated under the materials and
methods section of the study. The procured
findings of the study from microbiological
assays were reported completely and were
analyzed properly and efficiently with the use
of existing literature to explain and compare as
to why such results were yielded in the study.
However, the authors had failed to mention the
specific study design of the report, but it could
be implied.
---------
V1
The review was incorporated in the
introduction where several journals and other
existing literature were utilized to provide an
organized background on the topic at hand. It
offered a balanced critical analysis of the
literature since all relevant information
regarding the topic was presented and cited
appropriately. Case studies were also
✓
identified to further support the study, as seen
in the discussion where the findings were
correlated with previous research.
V2
The research report logically follows the
phases of the research process. A sufficient
background on the prevalence of E. coli-
caused urinary tract infections (UTI) was

Theoretical Framework
● Is there an identified conceptual or
theoretical framework?
● If yes, was it adequately described
and is the framework appropriate?
Aims/Objectives/Research
Question/Hypotheses
● Have aims and objectives, a
research question or hypothesis
been clearly identified?
● If yes, are they clearly stated and
reflect the information presented in
the literature review?
Sample/Population
● Has the target population been
clearly identified?
● How were the sample selected?
● Is it of adequate size?
● Are the inclusion/exclusion criteria
clearly identified?
presented to emphasize the importance of
better control treatment of these illnesses. The
authors then went on to discuss the materials
and procedures utilized in the investigation,
with the goal of determining the etiological
agents and evaluating their antibiotic
susceptibility. Per test, the method of data
collecting was thoroughly described. The
results and debate were then presented,
including tables and figures to help with visual
representation. Lastly, the study's findings
were summarized in a concise conclusion.
V3
The literature review is well-organized in the
article. In the introduction, several journals
were used to provide background for UTI, its
causative agents and the prevalence of
antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the
discussion is also composed by various
studies to support the result of the study.
Overall, the review provides a balanced
critical analysis of the literature.
There is no identified conceptual or theoretical
framework.
V1
The aim of the study, mentioned in the
"Introduction" part, was to "isolate and
✓ determine the etiologic agents from clinical
samples and evaluate their susceptibility to
normally used antibiotics". This was explicitly
stated, which was also extensively supported
by the literature review provided in the study.
V1
The study mentioned in the materials and
methods that the samples were collected from
patients infected with UTI. The patients were
registered in the research and the urine
samples were obtained aseptically for
microbial culture. It was placed in a sterile

Ethical Considerations
● Were the participants fully
informed about the nature of the
research?
● Was the confidentiality of the
participants guaranteed?
● Was ethical permission granted for
the study?
Study Design
✓ you can infer that the study design is a
● Is the research design clearly
identified?
Methodology ✓ The data gathering instrument is appropriate.
● Has the data gathering instrument
been described and is it
appropriate?
containers with properly labelled name, age,
and sex of the patients. They were cultured
immediately after collection.
V2
The target population has been clearly
identified. It was indicated under “Materials
and Methods” that the samples were collected
from 70 UTI infected patients that were
registered in this research. It was also stated
that the urine samples were aseptically
collected in sterile containers and
appropriately labelled with the name, age, and
sex of the patient.
V1
The process of acquiring ethics approval and
informed consent was not explicitly stated in
the study although, it was mentioned the
samples were collected from patients that
registered for the study.
V2
The 70 patients involved in the study were not
mentioned to be informed about the nature of
the research. At the same time, the
confidentiality of the participants was not said
to be guaranteed. The ethical permission grant
was not seen in the study.
The study design was not clearly indicated, but
quantitative, descriptive study design.
The study was conducted at the Tehsil
Headquarter hospital in Pakistan, wherein
samples were taken from 70 registered
patients and immediately cultured after
collection. It was discussed in the study how
the specimens were processed. It was first
cultured, then stained to confirm the identity of
the pathogens and bacteria. After it underwent

Data Analysis and Results
● Do the conclusions and discussion
reflect the calculated statistics
(example: mean, p values, or ✓
confidence intervals)?
● Were the results presented clearly
and sufficiently to enable to draw
conclusions?
Conclusions
● Have the authors expressed the
effects of an intervention or
exposure in terms of the likely
benefit or harm which an individual
a biochemical test, then antimicrobial
susceptibility testing, then disk diffusion
technique, then the transfer of inoculums, and
then the reading of the plates and the
interpretation of the result. The results were
then discussed, and figures and tables were
presented to summarize the study's findings.
The discussion and conclusion reflect the
statistics, which were in percentages and
frequencies. They were presented in a tabular
form which made it easier for readers to draw
conclusions from. The findings were also
supported with literature that were sufficient to
form a conclusion.
V2
Yes, the discussion and conclusion of the
study states that females are more prone to
UTI compared to males which is true based
from the results of the study wherein female
patients have a prevalence rate of 68% with
males only at 32%. Both male and female
patients were also sensitive to the following
antibiotics TZP, FOS, F, IMP, AK, and SCF
and resistant to AM, AMC, CFX, SXT, DO,
CIP, CEF, and CRO which do reflect the
results of the antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli
among male and female patients with UTI.
The results were clearly presented through
tabulations and were compared or supported
with evidence from other related studies. The
results are then sufficient to be able to draw a
conclusion and answer the research problem
of the study.
The authors conclusion matched the findings,
discussion, and statistical significance of the
results and discussion section of the article.
The authors wrote in their conclusion the
antimicrobial agents which were resistant to
 patient can expect?
● Do the authors’ conclusions match the strain and the antimicrobial agents which
the data, analysis, and statistical were effective against the strain.
significance?
In the journal article, the researchers failed to
include recommendations for future
researchers that are interested in this
Recommendations particular research topic. There were also no
✓ limitations stated to which recommendations
● Was a recommendation for further would have been inferred from.
research made?

As future medical technologists, this study is

Clinical Impact Statement
● What is your perception of the
potential impact of the study on
your health care profession,
especially on your practice?
beneficial and a wakeup call for us that there is
an increasing antibiotic resistance, and cases
of UTI among females in the middle age
groups. With that being said, we must take
part in implementing measures for controlling
and preventing UTI and antibiotic resistance.
We must educate others and spread
awareness to avoid a Widespread concomitant
resistance.

References 

Coughlan, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative
research. British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) , 16(11), 658–663.
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2007.16.11.23681

Sullivan. (2008). Critical Appraisal for Research Papers Appraisal Checklist & Guide Questions .