Epidemiological Profile of Urinary Infection in Women Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs due to the ascension of bacteria from the perianal region to the urinary tract. The most affected population is female, due to anatomical factors and lifestyle habits that may predispose individuals to this infection. Aim: The study aims to outline the epidemiological profile of urinary infections in female medical students. Methodology: Urinary cultures were performed on 41 urine samples from medical students, who responded to a questionnaire addressing lifestyle habits that could promote urinary infections. Results: All cultures performed yielded negative results. However, 70.7% of the samples exhibited microbial contamination with the growth of more than one bacterial species. Descriptive analysis of the questionnaire revealed that medical students engage in lifestyle habits that help prevent urinary tract infections, such as frequent bladder emptying, adequate water intake, cleaning the perianal area after sexual intercourse, and avoiding the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Consequently, no classic signs of infection were observed on the day of sample collection. Conclusion: It is hypothesized that, due to the advanced level of education among medical students, they possess a greater understanding of lifestyle habits that can mitigate the risk of urinary infections, thereby preventing the proliferation of uropathogenic bacteria. However, a significant rate of contamination was observed in the urine samples submitted for culture.