OCCURRENCE AND ANTIBACTERIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF UROPATHOGENS AMONG STUDENTS OF MODIBBO ADAMA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, YOLA

Abstract

In order to assess the occurrence and antimicrobial profile of urinary tract pathogens, 80 early morning mid-stream urine samples were collected from students of Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, and cultured on Cysteine Lactose electrolyte deficient medium using standard microbiological methods. A total 43 urine samples representing an occurrence of 65% yielded significant growth of uropathogens. It was observed that females were more infected than the males with an occurrence rate of 40 % and 25 % respectively. Common uropathogens isolated in this study include: Staphylococcus aureus (26.1%), E coli (23.1%), Klebsiella spp (17.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.5%), Enterococcus spp (9.6%),, Proteus spp (7.6%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticcus (5.8%). The highest occurrence of the isolates was among age groups 21-25 years (80.6%) followed by age groups 26-30 years (65.2%). Risk behaviours and predisposing factors like hygiene, sexual activity and contraception are possible reasons for the high incidence among the study population. The isolates were predominantly very sensitive to gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin and therefore strongly recommended for the treatment of UTI as indicated in the study. Also, to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections among the study population, improved personal hygiene and public facilities like toilets should be provided and students should abstain from risky behaviours that predispose them to uropathogen.