Evaluating the Bacteria Profile and Drug Susceptibility Patterns of Urinary Tract Infectious Pathogens in Pregnant Women in Abakaliki Metropolis, Nigeria

Patient’s demographic data were obtained from a well-structured questionnaire administered before sample collection. A total of two hundred (200) early morning mid-stream urine samples were collected from pregnant women attending Mile 4 hospital to determine the prevalence of UTIs among pregnant women. The collected samples were analysis using Standard Microbiology protocol for isolation and identification of uropathogens. Antibiogram studies of uropathogens were determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and the results were analyzed and were compared with the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) zone diameter breakpoints. Results of isolation and characterization revealed an overall occurrence rate of 68(34.0%) bacteria consisting of a high distribution of E. coli 27(13.5%) followed by S. aureus 22 (11.0%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae 19 (9.5%). Socio-demographic data of patients revealed that those aged 42-49 years had a high frequency of bacteria 7(70.0%) followed by those aged 34-41 years 50.0%, 18-25 years 31.1% while those aged 26-33 year had the least isolation rate of 26.3%. The occurrence of UTI was highly predominant among patients with no formal level of Education 24(64.9%) than those with formal level of education 17(26.9%). The result of antibiogram studies shows that the isolates exhibited a high percentage of resistance to colistin 100%, azetronam 100% clindamycin 100%, and tetracycline 77.3% but were 92.6%-100% susceptible to cefoxitin, imipenem and amikacin. However, with substantial evidence in this study, cefoxitin, imipenem, and amikacin as drugs of choice could be used for the treatment of UTI, and further studies should be conducted by using highly sensitive and specific techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which is the technique used to make numerous copies of a specific segment of the deoxyribonucleic acid quickly and accurately, including genotypic characterization of resistant determinant in bacteria causing UTI among pregnant patients in a larger sample size.