Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection pathogens among pregnant and non pregnant women

Abstract

The prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection isolates from 100 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Owerri General Hospital, Nigeria was assessed. The prevalence of UTI isolates from the pregnant women was compared with that in non-pregnant women. The organisms isolated include: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp and Streptococcus spp. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates were also determined using disk diffusion test. One hundred (100) women were tested; 40% had bacteriuria as against 31% in non-pregnant women. The most sensitive isolate was E. coli, while the least was Streptococcus spp. The most effective antibiotics were Gentamycin, Tarivid and Ciprofloxacin, while the least occurred with Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin, Septrin, Ampiclox. Improvement on personal hygiene and diagnostic screening and treatment will help to reduce the prevalence of bacteriuria in pregnancy. There is also the need for regular antibiotic survey as this will ensure up to date information on the usefulness of the various antibiotics to treat infection thereby avoiding drug resistance as a result of continuous usage of drugs that are not sensitive to some microorganisms.Keywords: antibiotic sensitivity, urinary tract, bacteriuria, women, gram-positive, gram-negative.