Prevalence and Factors Associated with Uropathogenic Klebsiella spp. Among Women Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Libreville, Gabon: A Single-Center Experience

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant global health concern, with women being disproportionately affected. As the clinical importance of Klebsiella spp. as uropathogens continues to rise, this study aimed to determine their prevalence and associated factors among women attending a tertiary hospital in Libreville, Gabon. Bacteriological urine analyses were conducted on 791 women (inpatients and outpatients) at the Omar Bongo Ondimba Army Instruction Hospital between April and December 2024. Bacterial identification was performed using Analytical Profile Index (API 20E) strips and the VITEK® 2 Compact system. The overall UTI prevalence was 43.6% (345/791). Klebsiella spp. accounted for 14.4% (114/791) of all cases, representing an isolation rate of 33.0% (114/345) among infected participants. Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) was the predominant species (84.2%), followed by K. aerogenes (9.6%) and K. oxytoca (6.1%). Marital status was significantly associated with Klebsiella spp. UTIs; compared to single/divorced women, widows (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0–4.5) and those in married or cohabiting unions (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1–2.6) exhibited a significantly higher risk of infection. These findings highlight a substantial proportion of UTIs caused by Klebsiella spp. in Libreville and underscore the influence of sociodemographic factors on infection risk, emphasizing the need for targeted preventive measures in at-risk populations.