Abstract

ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA AMONG STUDENTS IN MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE.UMUAHIA.ABIA-STATE.NIGERIA

Mbajiuka Chinedu S and *Enya Emmanuel

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is said to be a situation when bacteria are present in urine in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms of urinary infection in the hosts. The microbiological definition is having greater than or equal to 105cfu/ml of same organism(s) in a urine specimen. This study investigated the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in female students and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates was determined. 80 urine samples were studied. Midstream urines were collected and examined microscopically and cultured. Samples were cultured on nutrient agar, MacConkey and Blood Agar and incubated at 37OC for 24hrs. Isolates were tested against antibiotics which included Ampicillin, Cotrimoxazole, Ofloxacin, Augmentin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol by disc diffusion method. The total occurrence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 48.7% while the isolates were E. coli representing 22.5% of the isolates. Others were S. aureus 12.5%, Klebsiella spp (5.00%); Proteus spp (5.00%) and Streptococcus spp (3.75%). A negative test for the nitrite and leucocyte esterase pad on the dipstick test was not used to rule out an infection as bacterial growth on culture media was also demonstrated for such samples. Positive tests for the nitrite and leucocyte esterase pad from the urine dipstick analysis however required further confirmation through urine culture. Ofloxacin was the most active antibiotic as it achieved a susceptibility rate of 88.9% against E. coli while Tetracycline and Ampicillin recorded the least. The incidence rate of 48.7% reported in this study should be of great concern because asymptomatic bacteriuria predisposes patients to UTI.

Keywords: Bacteriuria, Pyuria, Genitourinary, Asymptomatic, Pathogens.