Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urine samples of pregnant women presenting with urinary tract infections with asymptomatic bacteriuria in different hospitals in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms are notorious for their intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotics and have been seriously implicated in urinary tract infections (UTIs). In this study, the prevalence and antibiogram of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the urine samples of pregnant women hospitalized at different clinics was investigated. Methods: A total of fifty (50) urine samples obtained by informed consent from pregnant women were cultured on Centrimide agar for the isolation of P. aeruginosa. Significant growth was sub-cultured on Centrimide agar for microbiological analysis. Various physical and biochemical tests as well as antimicrobial susceptibility test were carried out on the isolates. Results: A prevalence rate of 45% observed for P. aeruginosa was considered high (n=22). The prevalence of P. aeruginosa among pregnant women in relation to age and educational status revealed that the observed changes are likely to have occurred by chance at α = 0.05. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that drugs found most effective against P. aeruginosa were Gentamicin, Imipenem and Ciprofloxacin, while the other antibiotics used showed little or no effect. Conclusion: Routine check of UTIs due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is advocated in pregnant women especially in hospitalized cases.