REPORTED CASES OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF UROPATHOGENS FROM HOSPITALS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

As global studies report varying trends in antibiotic susceptibility of uropathogens, it is necessary to have current and constant information on the prevalence of urinary tract infections, the causative pathogens, and their susceptibility profiles, for effective management in specific geographical settings. This prospective cross-sectional study focused on the prevalence of urinary tract infections, etiological agents, and their antibiogram in a secondary and tertiary care hospital in Northern Ghana. Urine samples collected from 219 patients of all age groups were cultured on cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar. Pathogens were identified following standard microbiological methods, and their susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Approximately 34% of the patients had significant bacteria, but the prevalence was slightly higher (P=.763) in the Tertiary care hospital (37.3%) than in the Secondary hospital (30.3%). Patients who were 60 years and above (27.0%) were commonly found with UTIs followed by the year group 20 to 29 years (20.3%). Although all the diagnoses had a positive relationship with urinary tract infection except Pyelonephritis, none of the underlying conditions was a significant (P > .05) predictor of urinary tract infection, with the odds ratio indicating that patients with hyperparathyroidism and dysuria had 2.606 times more likely increased risk or predictor of urinary tract infection. Ten different pathogens were identified, but Escherichia coliand Staphylococcus saprophyticus were frequently encountered. Gram-negative isolates generally showed more resistance. High resistance against ampicillin (100%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (88.5%), chloramphenicol (84.6%), augmentin (69.2%), ceftriaxone (69.2%), and ciprofloxacin (61.5%) were recorded. Amikacin was relatively effective against isolated pathogens. The high records of resistance among uropathogens and the occurrence of multidrug resistance (92%) reiterate the urgent call for rigorous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among infectious pathogens in Ghana.