Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) remain a global health dilemma and it accounts for the majority
of reasons for hospital visiting globally. Sound knowledge of factors associated with UTI may
allow timely intervention that can easily bring the disease under control. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the common urinary tract infection causing pathogens isolated among
UTI patients with the common prescribed antibiotics and to establish multiple antibiotic
resistance patterns to commonly prescribed antibiotics among patients with urinary tract
infections attending KIU-TH and Ishaka Adventist Hospital during period from August 2018
to July 2019 in Bushenyi district of Uganda. In this cross-sectional study, 106 (54 females
and 52 males) UTI patients were obtained from KIU-TH while 108 (68 females and 40 males)
UTI patients were obtained from Ishaka Adventist hospital using microbiological laboratory
results and medical records. Data generated were tested for statistical significance and
scientific relevance. In KIU-TH, Escherichia coli was the most common isolated bacterial
pathogen with 46/106 (43.4%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 34/106 (32.1%). Klebsiella
pneumoniae 20/86 (18.9%), Pseudomonas species 4/106 (3.8%), Proteus species 1/106 (0.9%)
and Coccobacilli species 1/106 (0.9%). In Ishaka Adventist Hospital, Escherichia coli was also
mostly isolated with 51/108(47.2) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 27/108 (25.0%). Proteus
species 12/108 (11.1%), Pseudomonas species 11/108(10.2), Klebsiella pneumoniae
7/108(6.5%). This study revealed that Azithromycin was the most prescribed antibiotic in
Ishaka Adventist with 18.3% while Ciprofloxacin was the most prescribed antibiotic with
19.4% in KIU-TH. E. coli species showed 5.8% resistance to Azithromycin while other
pathogens did not show any resistance to it in Ishaka Adventist Hospital. E. coli had 33.3%
resistance to Ciprofloxacin followed by S.aureus with 23.5%, Klebsiella species 20.0%, Proteus
species 100% while Pseudomonas species and Coccobacilli species showed no resistance in
KIU-TH. This study also demonstrated that in KIU-TH the age <30 had statistically significant
relationships (p<0.05) with UTI Bacteria while marital status, occupation, gender and religion
were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In Ishaka Adventist Hospital, no socio-demographic
factor was statistically significant (P>0.05). In conclusion, Age≥30 significantly (p<0.05) influenced UTI distribution in KIU-TH. Resistance to Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin may affect their use in UTI management. Antibacterial misuse is highly discouraged.