Bacterial profile, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and associated factors among pregnant women with Urinary Tract Infection in Goba and Sinana Woredas, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Objective: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest infections affecting millions worldwide, especially pregnant women. It can lead to poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. Untreated UTI can be associated with serious obstetric complications. So the objective of present study was to determine the bacterial profile, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and associated factors of UTI among pregnant women in Goba and Sinana Woredas, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Results: The overall prevalence of UTI was 44/169 (26%) with 18/51 (35.3%) in symptomatic and 26/118 (22%) in asymptomatic pregnant women, respectively. Of the 44 bacterial isolates, E. coli 12/44 (27.3%), K. pneumonia 9/44 (20.5%) and S. marcescens 4/44 (9.1%) were the commonest bacterial pathogens. C. freundii 3/44 (6.8%), M. morganii 3/44 (6.8%), P. aeruginosa 3/44 (6.8%) and S. enteritidis 3/44 (6.8%) isolates were the moderately identified bacterial species. K. oxytoca 1/44 (2.3%) was the least common bacterium to be detected. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern showed that 90.9%, 88.6% and 86.3% of the isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, gentamycin and norfloxacin, respectively. Significant bacteriuria was associated with low educational status (p = 0.024; AOR = 6.617; CI = 1.87-9.94) and kidney problems (p = 0.018; AOR = 0.286; CI = 1.19-2.81).