Asymptomatic urinary tract infections in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

Urinary tract infections culminating from poor diagnosis during pregnancy puts pregnant women at high risk of serious complications. This study investigated the incidence of urinary tract infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Cape Coast Metropolis of the Central Region of Ghana. Physical, chemical, microscopic, and microbial analysis were performed on urine samples obtained from 200 pregnant women aged 15 - 45 years attending the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital and Ewim Urban Health Centre. The prevalence of urinary tract infections in the three trimesters was determined together with sensitivity testing of the bacteria isolates to antimicrobial drugs. Overall prevalence stood at 56.5 %, although comparatively high in pregnant women in the second trimester (50.4 %). Escherichia coli were the most implicated organism (48.7 %). Pregnant women aged between 15 – 32 years were the most affected and gentamycin was the most effective antimicrobial against the bacteria isolates. Results indicated that the incidence of urinary tract infections was high among pregnant women in the study area; therefore, urine microbial screening should be included in the routine antenatal checkups for pregnant women to detect the asymptomatic infections to reduce its risk to pregnancies.