Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to urinary tract infections in as many as 20% of pregnant women. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy can also lead to preterm births and low birth weights. The objective of this study was to profile uro-pathogens and describe the population-based prevalence, the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern, and ascertain the risk factors for asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Ho Teaching Hospital, in Ghana. Urine samples were cultured, isolates identified and antibiotic sensitivity testing was done using the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. 46 (13.7%) out of 335 pregnant women had asymptomatic bacteriuria. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas species (26.1%) followed by Escherichia coli (21.7%). All isolates (n=46; 100%) were resistant to Augmentin whereas 87% of the isolates (n=40) were susceptible to Gentamicin. However, most of the isolates were multi-resistant to antibiotic drugs. No education (p=0.019) and first trimester (p=0.046) of pregnancy were risk factors for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent organism isolated. All the uro-pathogens were resistant to Augmentin, while high rates of resistance to Tetracycline, Amikacin, Norfloxacin, and Levofloxacin were observed. The study reveals that asymptomatic bacteriuria was significantly associated with the first trimester of pregnancy and having no education.

Key words: Bacteriuria, urinary tract infections, prevalence, Ghana, Ho Teaching Hospital, antimicrobial resistance.