Prevalence of Uropathogenic Bacterial Infection and Oxidative Stress Pattern Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at St. Philomena Catholic Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and oxidative stress are both microbiological and biochemical conditions (respectively) that are common in pregnancy. Their existence in pregnancy possess serious concerns to the detriment of the pregnant woman and fetus if left unmanaged. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate and determine the interplay between UTI and oxidative stress at different trimesters of pregnancy using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. A total of 75 urine samples (70 test urine samples from pregnant women attending antenatal care at St. Philomena Catholic Hospital, and 5 control urine samples from asymptomatic non-pregnant healthy women) were collected. Uropathogens isolated from urine samples were Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis; with a UTI percentage prevalence of 42.9%. Oxidative stress bio-markers analyzed were Catalase (CAT), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The CAT, SOD, MDA and GPX activities level varied highly in 1st trimester and were more stabilized in 2nd and 3rd trimesters. There was significant difference in MDA activity level across different trimesters of pregnancy. The CAT, SOD, and MDA showed negative correlations with bacterial (uropathogens) counts, leading to higher oxidative stress. Gram positive uropathogens were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and augmentin, while Gram negative uropathogens were susceptible to gentamycin and levofloxacin. While this study provides useful insight into the interaction between urinary tract infection and oxidative stress at different trimesters, further research leading to strategic measures to mitigate oxidative stress in pregnancy is recommended.