An Investigation of Bacterial Infections in the Urinary Tract of Babylon City Women in Iraq, a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Urine infection, also known as a urinary tract infection (UTI), is an inflammation of the urinary system, while it is most common in women, UTI can occur in both men and women. A total of 719 urine samples were collected from women with UTI admitted to a general hospital in Babylon City, Iraq, between March 2022 and February 2023. Standard laboratory methods were used to culture urine and to diagnose all bacterial isolates that were grown on laboratory media. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test antibiotic susceptibility. Out of a total of 719 urine samples, 646 urine samples with positive bacterial growth and 73 urine samples without bacterial growth. E.coli was the most predominant bacteria with 309 isolates, K.pneumoniae 112, S.saprophyticus 62, E.faecalis 48, P. aeruginosa 31, S.aureus 20, S.haemolyticus 19, St.agalatiae 16 and C. freundii 8 isolates. E.coli, K.pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were highly resistance to amoxicillin 25 μg with percentages 81%, 82% and 90% respectively; S.saprophyticus had good resistance to penicillin 6 μg and ampicillin 10 μg with percentages 74%. The most effective antibiotic was imipenem 10μg, which inhibited all bacterial growth.