Abstract

This study reports the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among 80 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital (OCH), Ibadan, Nigeria, as well as the isolation and identification of the pathogens responsible for the infection. A total of 80 clean voided mid-stream urine samples were collected from pregnant women between the ages of 21-40 years. The results showed that the incidence of UTIs in this study population was 47.5%, and 38 bacterial isolates were identified based on colonial morphology, microscopic characteristics, and biochemical tests. The most predominant bacterium wasEscherichia coli 16 (42.1%). This was followed by Staphylococcus aureus 11 (28.9%), Klebsiella aerogenes 7 (18.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (5.3%), and a mixed culture of K. aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus 2 (5.3%). Urine microscopy revealed the presence of pus cells in 15 of the urine samples collected. Two urine samples, representing 2.5% of the samples, contained yeast cells, suggesting that candidiasis was also predominant. The high incidence of UTIs reported in this study should be of great concern, as not only do UTIs pose a threat to health, but they also impose an economic and social burden due to the stigma associated with these infections.

Key words: Bacteriuria, pregnant women, urine, urinary tract infection.