DETERMINATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLLIC GINGER (ZINGIBER OFFICINALE) EXTRACT AGAINST SELECTED TRACT PATHOGENS

Kidney and bladder urine are normally sterile, although the lower urethra in the female, and to a lesser extent in the male, may have detectable bacteria flora, which may include coliforms and Staphylococci species, with the number of microbes diminishing, upwards, as the bladder is approached (Getenet and Wondewosen, 2019). However, male infants are reported to have a higher rate of UTI than their female counterparts due to their being prone to congenital urinary disorders (Aaron, 2015). There are many different pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses) which cause UTIs. Bacteria are usually more prevalent and invasive. E. coli and other Enterobacteriacae are the most common bacterial pathogens and accounts approximately 75% of the isolates (Getenet and Wondewosen, 2018). The relative frequencies of the pathogens vary with age, sex, catheterization, and hospitalization (Sefton and Wondewosen, 2018).