Abstract

URINARY CATHETERIZATION IN THE EMERGENCY AND INTENSIVE CARE UNITS OF THE BAFOUSSAM REGIONAL HOSPITAL: INVESTIGATING THROUGH BACTERIA/FUNGI POPULATIONS AND SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILES OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Carine Killiane Myriam Billimassa Moukoudi, O’Neal Dorsel Youté, Esther Guladys Kougang, and Pierre René Fotsing Kwetche*

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Abstract

Urinary catheterization is one of the major causes of healthcare associated urinary tract infections caused by opportunistic endogenous and/or environmental microbial flora. The present investigation aimed at assessing the bacterial/fungal colonization in patients under 24-48 hours urinary catheters and bacterial isolates susceptibility, in connection with likely infection at the Emergency and Intensive Care Units of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (West-Cameroon). The specimens subjected to biological screening consisted of urines and urinary meatus swabs. All were screened according to standard protocols (REMIC, 2018 and CA-SFM, 2019). From the total of 30 participants enrolled, 83% and 100% colonization rates were recorded from urine and urinary meatus specimens, respectively. Overall, 84 isolates were recovered and identified. More precisely they were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (48%), Gram-positive rods (14%), Candida spp. (13%), Enterobacteriaceae (12%), Staphylococcus aureus (9%) and non-fermenting Gram-negative rods (4%). In urine, 80% of specimens with bacterial loads above the acceptable threshold for urinary tract infection (bacteriuria >1000 CFU/mL of urine) were observed. Susceptibility profiles further revealed high rates of multidrug resistance in isolates from all categories with Imipenem as the most effective antibacterial agent. These data reveal a significant risk of catheter-related urinary tract infections in this healthcare facility; stressing the needs for more appropriate management policies to mitigate the risk of infection associated with insertion of urinary catheters.

Keywords: Urine, urinary catheters, fungi, bacteria susceptibility.