# Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria in the urine of females in their reproductive ages in the Tamale Teaching Hospital

## TL;DR

This study found the most common bacteria causing UTIs in women of reproductive age in Tamale, Ghana, and identified effective antibiotics for treatment.

## Contribution

The study provides local data on UTI-causing bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility in a specific demographic and geographic region.

## Key findings

- Klebsiella spp was the most prevalent bacteria causing UTIs in the study population.
- Meropenem and Levofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the isolated pathogens.
- Acinetobacter baumannii showed resistance to Meropenem, highlighting the need for caution in treatment.

## Abstract

Regardless of where the illness occurs in the urinary tract, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is defined as the presence of substantial bacteria in urine. The objective was to determine the prevalence of UTIs among females in their reproductive age group (15–45 years) in Tamale Teaching Hospital. A total of 132 samples were collected for urine culture and sensitivity from January to April 2022. The urine samples were analysed using biochemical methods. The isolated bacterial pathogens were identified using standard bacteriological methods. In the 132 urine samples analysed, a higher frequency of bacteria was observed in the age group 21–25 years, followed by the age group 26–30 years, and then 15–20 years. Klebsiella spp had a prevalence rate of 30.95% followed by E. coli (23.81%), Klebsiella oxytoca (14.29%), Acinetobacter baumannii (7.14%), Citrobacter freudii (2.38%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.38%) and the other gram-positive organisms put together had 19.05%. Klebsiella spp was the most dominant bacteria pathogen causing UTIs among females. The isolated bacterial pathogens were most sensitive to Meropenem (MRP) and Levofloxacin (LVX). Acinetobacter baumannii was the only isolated bacteria pathogen resistant to MRP. Based on the study’s outcomes, LVX and MRP are suggested as first-line treatments for UTIs whilst doctors wait for culture and sensitivity test results from the lab.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41043-025-00853-y.