Journal Article

Prevalence of urinary tract infections and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates in first-time ANC attendees at a secondary health facility in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Aboagye, Nana Kofi Yeboah, Yakong, Vida Nyagre, Nyarko, Eunice, Mumuni, Kanyite Ayisha, Vicar, Ezekiel Kofi, Asakeboba, Philomena Ajanaba, Opare-Asamoah, Kwame, Majeed, Saeed F., Antwi, Kwadwo Fosu, Dongdem, Julius T., Sosu, Jerry Xola, Mustapha, Sulemana Zakariah

2025

Overview

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women are a common public health concern. Identifying the prevalence of bacteriuria, the causative organisms, and their anti-microbial susceptibility profiles against commonly prescribed antibiotics used to treat UTIs among pregnant women is an aim this study seeks to attain. This aim is critical in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 3.1 and 3.2, targeted at reducing the scourge of global maternal mortality. Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women seeking antenatal care at a secondary health facility in Ghana. Mid-stream urine samples from the study participants were collected aseptically, and their physical and biochemical composition was determined semi-quantitatively. Urine samples were examined, and microscopy was conducted, after which they were cultured. Organisms in significant urine culture growth were isolated and tested against commonly prescribed antibiotics used to treat UTIs at the facility using standard protocols to determine their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Results A total of 200 pregnant women with a mean age of 27.8 ± 6.1 years participated in the study. Almost half, 48.0% (96) of all the study participants, reported for booking in the second trimester of their pregnancy. A 39.0% (78/200) positive culture growth in all the urine samples, with bacteria species responsible for the culture growth in 21.5% (43/200) of the total urine samples, was noted in this study. Ninety-one organisms were isolated, with 38.5% (35/91) being yeast-like cells , 31.9% (29/91) Escherichia coli, and 8.8% (8) Pseudomonas spp and 7.7% (7) being Klebsiella spp . There was a varying resistance of the isolated bacteria, ranging from 50.0% to 100.0%, to commonly prescribed antibiotics used in treating UTIs at the facility. Conclusions Bacteriuria in the study participants was relatively high, which warrants screening all pregnant women and treating those infected with appropriate anti-microbial regimens to reduce its complications. Also, the variable sensitivity of isolated bacteria to commonly prescribed antibiotics at the facility is a concern; as such, health education on anti-microbial stewardship should be incorporated into routine antenatal education for pregnant women in Ghana.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Abdomen / Adult / Antenatal / Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology / Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use / Antibiotic susceptibility / Antibiotics / Asymptomatic / Bacteria / Bacterial infections / Bacteriuria - drug therapy / Bacteriuria - epidemiology / Bacteriuria - microbiology / Birth weight / Cross-Sectional Studies / Data collection / Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Education / Escherichia coli - isolation & purification / Female / Gestational age / Ghana - epidemiology / Gynecology / Humans / Laboratories / Maternal and Child Health / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Mortality / Obstetrics / Population / Pregnancy / Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - drug therapy / Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology / Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - microbiology / Pregnant women / Prenatal care / Prenatal Care - statistics & numerical data / Prevalence / Public health / Reproductive Medicine / Sample size / Sampling techniques / Sociodemographics / Tamale / Urinalysis / Urinary tract infections / Urinary Tract Infections - drug therapy / Urinary Tract Infections - epidemiology / Urinary Tract Infections - microbiology / Urine / Urogenital system / Womens health / Young Adult