Assessment of Bacteriological and Antibiogram of Uropathogens among Students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri

Abstract

The  Assessment of bacteriological and antibiogram of uropathogens among students in the faculty of Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri with the aim to determine the prevalence of the isolates and to test which antibiotic has the greatest antagonistic activity against the different isolates in the study area. Fifty (50) students made up of both sexes were examined using their midstream urine samples as specimen. The study took note of the students’ age, sex and department. The urine samples were cultured on Nutrient agar, Mannitol salt agar, and MacConkey agar using pour plate method and were incubated at 37oC for 24 hours.  After which the total bacterial counts were carried out and based on the count, it was categorized as being significant, suspected and non-significant. The colonies were then sub cultured for further identification. The pure isolates produced were stained using Gram stain, examined microscopically and further tested using relevant biochemical tests. It was found that a total of 35 bacteria were isolated which includes E.coli 14(40%) being the most predominant organism, followed by Staphylococus aureus 13(37.1%), Proteus mirabilis 7(20%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1(2.9). Out of the fifty (50) urine samples investigated, 24 samples were significant for UTI (105 CFU/ml), 2 samples were suspected for UTI (102 – 104 CFU/ml), while 24 were not significant for UTI (below 102CFU/ml). Based on departmental studies, the subjects from the Department of Nutrition and Diatetics and Optometry had the highest significance of UTI, (60%) respectively. The results of susceptibility tests showed that Imipenem was the most effective antibiotic in inhibiting the bacterial growth (98.8% of antibiotic activity). The present study therefore, revealed that the urine samples collected from students in Faculty of Health sciences, Imo State University, Owerri had significant UTI and most of the isolates (98.8%) were sensitivity to Imipenem. UTI testing should be conducted periodically, and those who are infected should be treated with antibiotics like Imipenem to avoid complications. New antimicrobials and therapeutic agents with great efficacy, no side effects, ease of availability, and low cost should also be created. In order to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic medication should be started following a laboratory culture and sensitivity report. This would not only aid in the prudent use of antibiotics, but it would also help to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistant strains in the research region and the general community.