PREVALENCE OF BACTERIA UROPATHOGENS IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING SELECTED STATE HOSPITALS IN OSUN STATE

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are mainly caused by the presence and growth of microorganisms in the urinary tract, which are the single commonest bacterial infections of all age groups and especially in pregnancy, which if untreated can adversely affect the health of the pregnant mother. The study focuses on assessing the prevalence of bacteria uropathogens in pregnant women. The study comprised of 213 pregnant women attending the ante-natal clinic in State Hospital, Ede, and State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, Osun state. There was no age limit. Socio demographic data such as age, gender, and other important information like previous history and stage of pregnancy, previous history of UTI and recent use of antibiotics were also collected with the use of a questionnaire. A clean-catch midstream urine was collected into a sterile universal bottle, labeled and transferred to the microbiology laboratory for analysis. The urine sample was processed for culture and isolation of bacteria pathogens using standard methods and isolates were identified to species level by the combination of colony morphology, gram staining techniques and biochemical tests. Data obtained was analyzed statistically with SPSS software version 22. Out of the 213 samples analyzed, 181(85%) yielded significant bacteria growth while 32(15%) had no significant bacteria growth. Klebsiella pneumoniae 57(31.5%) was the dominant pathogen isolated followed by Escherichia coli 45(24.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus 43(23.7%), the least isolated pathogen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4(2.2%). Routine microbiological analysis and antibiotic sensitivity test of mid-stream urine samples of pregnant women should be carried out to enhance administration of drugs for the treatment and management of UTIs. Health education with regular antenatal and personal hygiene is recommended as precautionary measures to UTI.