Urinary Tract Infections and Antimicrobial Sensitivity Patterns of Uropathogens Isolated from Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients Attending Some Hospitals in Awka

Background: Diabetic patients have been found to be prone to urinary tract infections, and there is a wide gap of information in developing countries regarding the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity of the pathogens causing this infection. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, predisposing factors and antibiotic sensitivity of organisms causing urinary tract infections among diabetic patients and non-diabetics in four hospitals in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Method: A total of four hundred and sixty participants (230 diabetic patients and 230 non-diabetics) were enrolled in a cross- sectional study design with 249 males (54.13%) and 211 (45.87 %) females. Clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected from all participants in sterile containers and analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. Each urine specimen was streaked onto Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient agar and Sabouraud’s Dextrose agar, incubated at 37°C for 24h and identified using standard methods. The sensitivity of the isolates to different antibiotics was tested using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data obtained were analyzed statistically. Result: The overall prevalence of urinary tract infections among diabetic patients, 63 (27.39%), was significantly higher than that among non-diabetics, 41 (17.83%) (p= 0.014). Gender and previous history of UTI were found to have significant association with urinary tract infection (0.000). Organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter spp, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. The isolates were sensitive to tested antibiotics with Gentamicin (10µg) and Ceftriaxone (30µg) as most effective against Gram negative bacteria isolates while Ampicillin (10µg) and Chloramphenicol (30µg) were most effective against Gram positive bacteria isolates. Conclusion: The prevalence of UTI is significantly higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics with E. coli being the most common isolate.The importance of antibiotic sensitivity testing before treatment is highly recommended.