Abstract

PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL AND PARASITIC URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN FEMALE STUDENTS OF IMO STATE UNIVERSITY

Nwosu, D.C*, Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Amajioyi, O. Ibebuike, J.E. Ozims, S.J.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) was evaluated in three hundred female students of Imo State University, Owerri using urinalysis, direct microscopy and culture methods. 84 cases of significant bacteriuria indicating a prevalence of 28%, 13 (4.3%) Trichomonas vaginalis and 2 (0.7%) Schistosoma haematobium was observed. The most common organisms were Escherichia coli (32.1%) and Klebsiella spp (22.6%). Others were Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%), Pseudomonas spp (14.3%) Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (10.7%), Proteus mirabilis (8.3%) and Serratia marcesens (2.4%). The invitro-antibiotic susceptibility of isolates to Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Streptomycin multi-discs using agar diffusion method showed all the isolates to be less than 50% sensitive to Ampicillin (2μg). The findings could be related to multi-ethnic attributes of those examined, persistence of poor sanitary conditions and sexual habits. It is 'recommended that seminars, routine and regular mass screening on asymptomatic UTI be carried out since untreated UTI may lead to Pyelonephiritis and kidney failure.

Keywords: Trichomonas vaginalis, Schistosoma haematobium and Serratia marcesens.