Prevalence and Distribution of Urinary Tract Infections among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outpatients in a Tertiary Hospital in Jalingo, Taraba State

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, data on the burden of UTI among HIV-positive outpatients in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria, are limited. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and distribution of UTIs among HIV-positive outpatients attending the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Taraba State Specialist Hospital, Jalingo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 99 HIV-positive outpatients. Clean-catch midstream urine samples were cultured on Blood and MacConkey agar, and isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Demographic data were obtained through interviews, whereas CD4 + cell counts were retrieved from medical records. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with associations assessed using the Chi-square test at a 95% confidence interval and P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of UTI was 17.2%. Females had a significantly higher prevalence (22.4%) compared to males (0%) ( P = 0.013). Higher prevalence rates were observed among married participants (23.4%), individuals aged 32–40 years (25.0%), and those with CD4 + cell counts <200 cells/mm 3 (28.6%) ( P = 0.0039). Escherichia coli (47.1%) was the predominant uropathogen, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%), whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis , and Klebsiella spp. each accounted for 11.8%. CONCLUSION: UTI is moderately prevalent among HIV outpatients in Jalingo, particularly among females and individuals with low CD4 + cell counts. Routine screening and targeted prophylactic interventions are recommended to reduce UTI-related morbidity.