Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection Pathogens Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Federal Medical Centre Owerri

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy pose significant risks to maternal and foetal health, including preterm labour and low birth weight, making their identification and management a priority in antenatal care. This study determines the prevalence and microbial profile of UTI pathogens among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. Mid-stream urine samples were collected from 200 consecutive pregnant women and processed by standard culture on CLED agar and blood agar. Significant bacteriuria was defined as greater than or equal to 105 colony-forming units per millilitre. Identification of isolates was performed using standard biochemical tests and the API 20E system. Antibiotic susceptibility testing followed Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion protocols. UTI prevalence was 28.5 percent, with Escherichia coli (38 percent), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22 percent), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (15 percent) as the dominant isolates. Asymptomatic bacteriuria accounted for 44 percent of positive cases, underlining the importance of routine screening. Resistance rates exceeding 60 percent were recorded against ampicillin and co-trimoxazole. Nitrofurantoin and gentamicin showed the highest susceptibility rates among tested isolates. The study highlights the need for routine urine culture as standard antenatal practice in Owerri health facilities and advocates for evidence-based antibiotic selection in managing pregnancy-associated UTIs. Keywords: urinary tract infection, pregnancy, antenatal, bacteriuria, Owerri