Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Escherichia coli from Urine Samples of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Selected Hospitals within Kaduna Metroplolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain the most common infections diagnosed among inpatients, outpatients, and hospitalized patients. A total of 400 urine samples were collected from pregnant women attending selected hospitals within Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria, and analyzed for E. coli-associated urinary tract infection. E. coli was isolated using Eosin methylene blue agar and preserved on Nutrient agar slant. The isolates were identified based on cultural characteristics, conventional biochemical tests, and Microgen kit identification. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of the 400 samples collected, 85 (21.3%) were positive for Escherichia coli. In relation to age groups, pregnant women within the age group 26–30 years had the highest prevalence of infection (28.3%), followed by those within 31–35 years (18.9%). Pregnant women with the least prevalence were within the age group 15–20 years (18.3%). Pregnant women who were housewives had the highest prevalence of E. coli infection. Women in their second and third trimesters were found to have a higher prevalence of Escherichia coli infection, with 21.7% and 23.0%, respectively. This indicates that high parity is one of the possible factors affecting the prevalence of urinary tract infection among pregnant women. Escherichia coli isolates showed the highest susceptibility to Gentamicin (72.9%), Amoxycillin (70.5%), and Streptomycin (70.5%). However, the isolates exhibited higher resistance to Perfloxacin (49.4%), Chloramphenicol (38.8%), and Ciprofloxacin (36.5%).