Understanding Bacterial Profiles and Antimicrobial Sensitivity in Pregnant Women with Urinary Tract Infections: A Study from THQ Swabi
Keywords:
Pregnancy, Urinary tract infection, Bacterial Profile, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Escherichia Coli, Fosfomycin, NitrofurantoinAbstract
Background: UTI is a frequent disorder of pregnancy and if not treated properly, could result in complications in both mother and baby. Local knowledge of the bacterial isolates and the antimicrobial sensitivity of the bacteria is crucial in the selection of appropriate and safe antibiotic in patients during their antenatal period.
Objective: To determine the bacterial profile and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern among pregnant women presenting with urinary tract infections at THQ Swabi.
Methodology: The descriptive cross sectional study was carried out at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Swabi with the Department of Pathology from May 2023 to November 2023. A non-probability consecutive sampling was used for the enrolment of the pregnant women suspected of having UTI, a total of 102 pregnant women were enrolled. Clean-catch urine samples were collected and processed for bacteriological culturing, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 26.
Results: The mean age was 28.10 ± 6.00 years. Significant bacterial growth was found in 78 (76.5%) samples. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate 36 (46.2%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 17 (21.8%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus 8 (10.3%). Fosfomycin showed the highest sensitivity 70 (89.7%), followed by nitrofurantoin and amikacin 67 (85.9%) each. The highest resistance was observed against ampicillin 65 (83.3%) and cotrimoxazole 54 (69.2%). After multivariable adjustment, pus cells >5/HPF remained the only significant independent predictor of culture-positive UTI (AOR = 3.262, 95% CI: 1.073–9.916, p = 0.037).
Conclusion: Culture-positive UTI was frequent among pregnant women at THQ Swabi. E. coli was the leading bacterial isolate, while fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin showed favorable sensitivity. High resistance to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole supports the need for culture-guided therapy and regular local antibiogram surveillance.
Keywords: Pregnancy, urinary tract infection, bacterial profile, antimicrobial sensitivity, Escherichia coli, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin.
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