ABSTRACT

The incidence of urinary tract infections was studied between pregnant and non-pregnant women. 1'he pregnant Women wei.e attending a nlenatal cii He iii ovcrnment health centers and hospitals in Umuahia, while the non_pregnant women were women residing in different geographical locations in Umuahia, Abia State. A total of 1 00 urine samples were collected, 50 from the pregnant women; 1 2 each from Federal Medical Centre and Amachara General Hospital, 11 from Nkwoegwu Health Centre, 8 from Afugiri Health Centre and 7 from Ubakala Health Centre. The other 50 samples were collected from non-pregnant women. The study showed that organisms associated with u11nary tract infections iii pregnant and non pregnant women included Staphylococcus aureus {5 1.5%, 43.2%}, Escl'zerichia co/i {44.4%, 36.4%, K/cbs/c//a pneumonia {4.4%, 9.1%), Candicla a/b/can 28.7%, 27.3%} Proteus mirabilis { 6.7%, 9. 1%}Pseudornonas aureginosa 4.4%,O% and Streptococcus fcacaiis {4.4%,2.2% } respectively. Sensitivity tests on gram negative organisms revealed that Escherichia coil had the highest degree sensitivity to Oflaxacin, Peflacin and Augumentin, (57.3%) respectively; while Pseudoinonas aureginosa had the lowest, (00/c). Sensitivity to Nalidixic acid Ampicilin and Septrin were 11.2%, 1.1 2% and I 0% respectively. For the gram-positive organisms, Staphylococcus clurc'us had the highest degree of sensitivity to Rifampin, Erythrornycin and Floxapen, (50.6%) respectively, sensitivity' to Gentamicin, Lincocin and • Ampiclox were 9%, 3.4% and 0% respectively. Urinary tracts infections are no longer diseases most prominent among the pregnant women. Good sanitary practices and sexual abstinence is suggested for the none pregnant women ..Treatment of infection with "new" broad spectrum antibiotics is also suggested as these drugs are not easily available and thus have not been abused.