Uropathogens and diagnostic potential of pH and specific gravity in a rural community of Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between urine pH and specific gravity (SG) and occurrence of urinary tract pathogens involved in urinary tract infection (UTI) in school pupils. Methods: Laboratory culture techniques and biochemical tests were carried out to identify the UTI-associated bacteria in school pupils' urine of United Nursery and Primary School, Ilara- Remo, in Ikenne Local Government area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Urine dip-stick tests were carried out on the samples to take pH and SG measurements. Results: The prevalence of urinary tract pathogens in the study population was 82.4%. This prevalence was not gender and age dependent (P > 0.05). Escherichia coli (E. coli ) (37.0%) and Klebsiella (0.9%) were the highest and least prevalent uropathogens. There was significant increase in proportion of subjects diagnosed with E. coli (37.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (32.0%), Klebsiella (57.1%) in pH 9, pH 6 and pH 8, respectively (P 0.05). There were significant increase in proportion of subjects diagnosed with E. coli (50.0%), Proteus (56.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (44.0%), Klebsiella (71.4%) in SG 1.010, 1.015, 1.015 and 1.010, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, the urine pH 9 and SG 1.010-1.015 are the best diagnostic indicators of UTI-associated uropathogens in school children.