Bacteriuria in Pregnancy: Prevalence and Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern Amongst Pregnant Women Attending the North West Regional Hospital, Bamenda

Abstract

Bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) is a frequently encountered medical complication in pregnancy and is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, delivery of low birth weight infants, intrauterine growth restriction and increased maternal and neonatal mortality. This study therefore evaluated the prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern amongst pregnant women attending the North West Regional hospital, Bamenda. Urine culture, bacteria isolation and antimicrobial sensitivity testing were done using standard methods. From the results obtained, 8.4% of the 310 pregnant women screened had significant Bacteriuria and of the seven bacteria species isolated, the most frequently encountered pathogen was Escherichia coli (50%). Bacteria isolates were most sensitive to Gentamicin (76.9%), Nitrofurantoin (73.1%) and Ciprofloxacin (65.4%). Resistance to Amoxicillin (76.9%) and Cotrimoxazole (69.2%) were most common. The most prevalent isolate Escherichia coli was most sensitive to Gentamicin (76.9%), Nitrofurantoin (76.9%), Cefuroxime (76.9%) and ciprofloxacin (76.9%). In conclusion, the prevalence of significant bacteriuria was found to be 8.4% with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent microorganism (50%). Most isolates exhibited sensitivity to Gentamicin, Nitrofurantoin and Ciprofloxacin.