Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections Among Patients Attending Some Selected Hospitals in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Background and Objective: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can occur in any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. They are among the most common infections and are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of UTIs to socio-demographic characteristics among the patients in the study area. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between May to October, 2023 among the patients, and socio-demographic data were collected. Collection of urine samples (mid-stream) were done aseptically, and general urine microscopic examination and culture were carried out. A total of 473 urine samples were collected from patients attending selected Government hospitals in Akure, Ondo State. Isolation of the organisms was done using standard microbiological methods. The data analysis was done in percentages, with a confidence level of 95%. Results: Out of 473 urine samples analyzed, 338 (71.45%) were females and 135 (28.54%) were males. The age range of the participants in this study were between 10 and 60. In relation to age group, the highest prevalence rate (31.97%) was obtained among the participants of 20-29 years, while the lowest prevalence rate of UTI (8.42%) was among the age of 10-29 years. The most predominant bacteria was Staphylococcus aureus with the highest occurrence (24.92%), and also Micrococcus luteus (1.34%) with the lowest occurrence of the samples. Conclusion: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) have become difficult to treat due to pathogens increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents. Infections can occur at any age in both genders, but are more prevalent among women. Therefore, there is a need for screening to avoid complications of these infections, which tend to pose serious public health issues.