Burden of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) among Female Students: South Eastern Nigeria Side of the Story

Aims: This study investigated the prevalence of infection, implicated bacteria species and antibiotics for better treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) among undergraduate female students of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, South East Nigeria.

Study Design: The study was a laboratory - based investigation.

Place and Duration of the Study: The investigation was carried out at the Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria between April and August 2014.

Methodology: Microscopy and culture of 150 urine samples of female undergraduates were carried out using standard methods to isolate bacteria causing UTI. Sensitivity tests were also conducted to identify susceptibility of the isolates to selected antibiotics.

Results: The results obtained showed that 117 (78%) out of the 150 females students screened were positive for significant (UTI). The micro-organisms isolated in order of prevalence included; E.coli (35.9%), Staphylococcus Spp (29.9%), Streptococcus spp (12.8%), Proteus spp (11.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.3%). Among the different antibiotics used against the isolates, ciprofloxacin was the most effective, followed by augumentin and gentamicin while the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline.

Conclusion: The prevalence of UTI is high in the study population and females at the peak of their sexually active years are more prone to infection than the younger ones. Bacteriuria is therefore still an issue of serious public health importance in Nigeria. E. coli was implicated as the greatest causative agent of bacteriuria and ciprofloxacilin was the most sensitive antibiotic against the bacteria isolates. To successfully control the transmission and menace caused by UTIs, improvement of both personal and environmental hygiene and health education on the transmission and causes of this infection are recommended. Proper diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals with highly sensitive antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, augumentin and gentamicin are also encouraged.