Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infection.rnThey have become the most common hospital acquired infections, accountingrnfor as many as 35% of nosocomial infections, and are usually associated withrncatheterization. The aim of this study is to assess the bacterial profile andrnantimicrbial resistance pattern of catheter associated urinary tract infection inrncomparison with non-catheter associated UTI. One hundred and twenty urinernspecimens (30 from catheterized patients and 90 from non-catheterized patientsrnwith symptoms of UTI) were screened for the presence of significant bacteruriarnfrom January to March 2005. Bacteriological screening of catheterized urine andrnclean catch mid-stream urine revealed that 13/30 (43.3%) and 20/90 (22.3%)rnhad significant bacteriuria, respectively (P50years old) were found to be the most affected age grouprn(46%) among catheterized patients whereas most of the non-catheterizedrnpatients with significant bacteruria belonged to age group 11-12 years. Amongrncatheterized patients, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species were found to bernthe most frequently isolated pathogens (each of them accounts 23 %) followedrnby coagulase negative Staphylococci (15 %). The most frequently isolatedrnspecies from non-catheterized patients was Klebsiella (40 %) followed by E. colirn(30 %). Resistance rates (56.3 % to 100%) to Ampicillin, amoxicillin,rncephalexin, carbenicillin, and Trimethoprime/sulfamethoxazole were observedrnin all organisms isolated from both groups. In addition, resistance rates torngentamicin, nitrofurantoin, and nalidixic acid were observed in all bacteriarnisolated from catheterized patients. In general, in this study, high level multidrugrnresistance in both groups indicated that it is time to reconsider the empirical usernof the commonly used antimicrobial agents in Ethiopia. Particularly, increasingrnviirnresistance in pathogens isolated from catheterized patients is frustrating.rnBecause the most important risk factors for UTI is duration of catheterizationrnindwelling urinary catheterization should be avoided or at least minimized