# Bacterial agent, antibiotic resistance profile and predictors of urinary tract infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study found that 14.9% of pregnant women in Ethiopia had UTIs, with high antibiotic resistance, and identified prior catheterization and UTI history as risk factors.

## Contribution

The study provides current data on UTI prevalence, bacterial agents, and antibiotic resistance patterns among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

## Key findings

- Escherichia coli was the most common UTI-causing bacteria, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus.
- High resistance to ampicillin and multidrug resistance in 77.3% of isolates were observed.
- Ceftazidime and norfloxacin showed high sensitivity for gram-negative isolates, while vancomycin and ceftriaxone were effective for gram-positive isolates.

## Abstract

•The overall prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) was 14.9%.•Escherichia coli was followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus species as common bacterial isolates.•The sensitivity of gram-negative isolates to ceftazidime and norfloxacin was high.•Vancomycin and ceftriaxone caused significant sensitivity in gram-positive isolates.•Women’s history of catheterization and history of UTI were the identified factors of UTI.

The overall prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) was 14.9%.

Escherichia coli was followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus species as common bacterial isolates.

The sensitivity of gram-negative isolates to ceftazidime and norfloxacin was high.

Vancomycin and ceftriaxone caused significant sensitivity in gram-positive isolates.

Women’s history of catheterization and history of UTI were the identified factors of UTI.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common globally, impacting quality of life and creating financial and medical difficulties. They are a concern in both community and hospital settings. The purpose of the study was to assess the bacteriological profile, risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of UTIs in pregnant women attending antenatal care in East Wallaga, Ethiopia.

Institutional-based cross-sectional research was carried out among pregnant women. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique was used to identify bacterial profiles and evaluate them for antibiotic sensitivity. A 95% confidence interval was used, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In this study, the total prevalence of UTIs was 14.9% (95% confidence interval: 11.0-18.8%) (n = 44/296). Most of the isolated organisms were gram-negative (61.4%). Escherichia coli was the most predominant isolate (40%). Eighty-seven percent of the bacterial isolates were ampicillin-resistant. Multidrug resistance was seen in 77.3% of the isolated bacteria. A history of catheterization and a history of UTI were identified as significant predictors of UTI.

In pregnant women, bacterial isolates from the current investigation indicated an alarming level of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it's critical to identify the drug-susceptibility pattern of the causative agents of UTIs and diagnose them early and routinely.