Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Urinary Tract Infection(UTI) among pregnant women in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) describe the microbial invasion and subsequent multiplication on a part or the entire urinary tract. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) has become the most common bacterial infections in humans, both at the community and hospital settings. The present study was a hospital-based surveillance conducted in four selected hospitals in Afikpo to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria from suspected urinary tract infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted on the urine of pregnant women with UTI attending the outpatient clinics between April-August 2013. A total of 200 clean midstream urine samples were collected and a general urine microscopic examination and culture were carried out, information on their age, gestational age, gravidity, parity, level of education and residence were also collected. Susceptibility testing panels of the following antibiotics: Gentamycin, tetracycline amikacin, ampicillin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, cotrimaxasole and cefaloxine were tested against the isolated organisms using disc diffusion method. The bacteriologic agents of UTI isolated from the patients showed that Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated organism (50.0%) and it is followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17.3%), Proteus mirabilis (5.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.7%) and Enterococcus faecalis (1.8%). The distribution of UTI among the ages of the antenatal patients showed that age group within the range of 27-32 years recorded the highest incidence of UTI, whereas those of them above 39 years showed the least incidence. Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Erythromycin were the most active antibiotics, while the isolates were highly resistant to cotrimoxasole, cefaloxine and nalidixic acid. Urinary tract infection is a major health problem among pregnant women. Urinalysis with culture and sensitivity test is the major diagnostic measure, while health education with regular antenatal and personal hygiene is recommended as precautionary measures to UTI.