Frequency and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogenic agents of urinary tract infections among asymptomatic diabetic patients in Okada community, southern Nigeria

Massive evidence showed that patients with diabetes have a high risk of urinary tract infections. We studied the frequency of potential urinary uropathogens among diabetic patients and identified their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. This was a prospective hospital-based study conducted at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, Southern Nigeria, between January 2014 and May, 2014. We included 240 previously confirmed diabetic patients (women, n=70 and men, n=170) who were regularly followed up without prior treatment with any antimicrobial therapy and within the age range of 26-75 years. Patient personal history data and midstream urine samples were collected. Urine samples were processed in the laboratory following a Standard Laboratory Protocol. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp. and Candida spp. were isolated in this study. A significant bacteriuria count was estimated in 12.5% of the sampled population, while 17.1 and 10.6% were estimated in females and males, respectively. Similarly, candiduria was found in female, male and total sample in 12.9%, 2.9%, and 5.8%, in that order. According to antimicrobial sensitivity testing, the Gram-negative bacilli isolated were highly sensitive to nitrofurantoin followed by ofloxacin, gentamycin and least sensitive to cefuroxime. Estimation of potential uropathogens among asymptomatic diabetic populations may avert possible urinary tract infections and their possible complications ultimately and thus prevent possible advanced renal diseases.