Childhood urinary tract infection in Abakaliki: etiological organisms and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood infection in the Tropics which causes significant illness and is frequently missed, probably because of its non-specific presentation and similarity with other common illnesses.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, common etiological agents, and the susceptibility of these pathogens to the commonly available antimicrobial agents in this center.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at the Children's Outpatient Clinic and Children's Emergency Ward of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (EBSUTH). The study was carried out between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009.

Results: One hundred ten subjects of the 3625 children seen in the center during the period of study had UTI giving a case prevalence rate of 3.0%. Majority of the patients (59, 53.6%) were less than 2 years of age with a male:female ratio of 1:1.3. Fever was the commonest presenting symptom and the commonest organisms isolated in urine were Klebsiella (27, 24.5%), and Staphylococcus aureus (24, 21.8%). The drugs that were most sensitive to these organisms were Gentamicin (50, 45.5%), Ceftriaxone (49, 44.5%), and Ciprofloxacin (36, 32.7%).

Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of UTI among children. Klebsiella was the commonest causative organism isolated in the urine. Gentamicin, Ceftriaxone, and Ciprofloxacin were the antimicrobials with the highest sensitivity to all the isolated microorganisms.