Antibacterial Susceptibility Profiles of Isolated Bacterial Uropathogens from Pregnant Women, Yemen

Abstract

Urinary tract infection is regarded as the most prevalent health issue among pregnant women, especially in underdeveloped nations. This study sought to ascertain the incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial uropathogens isolated from pregnant women in hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. Two hundred and eighty-five (285) midstream urine specimens were obtained from pregnant women visiting several hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen, between April and August 2024. Bacteriuria was isolated and identified using standard microbiological techniques. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was employed to assess antimicrobial susceptibility. The current findings indicated that merely 22.81% of urine specimens had positive growth for bacteriuria, whereas 77.19% were negative. The largest prevalence of bacteriuria, measured at 41.38% and 37.04%, was observed in the age group of 33–38 years, when pregnant women possessed a primary school degree. The prevalence of bacteriuria was notably high at 29.29% in women with main and secondary gravidity. Escherichia coli constituted 41.56% of the prevalent isolates in this investigation, followed by Staphylococcus aureus at 24.68%, Klebsiella spp. at 15.58%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.39%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) at 7.79%. The elevated susceptibility of antibiotics was documented: E. coli to ampicillin and cefepime, S. aureus to cefepime, ampicillin, and nitrofurantoin, Klebsiella sp. to cefepime and nitrofurantoin, and P. aeruginosa to cefepime, ampicillin, and vancomycin. In conclusion, antibiotic susceptibility testing is essential prior to prescribing antibiotics for pregnant women to guarantee effective treatment of bacteriuria.