THE BURDEN OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS AT THE EASTERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL, KOFORIDUA; A 1-YEAR TREND

Abstract

Background; A urinary tract infection (UTI) encompasses a wide range of clinical manifestations, such as prostatitis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urosepsis, and catheter associated UTI (CA-UTI). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a significant global health burden, affecting an estimated 250 million individuals annually with diverse causative agents. The study aims to explore the burden of Urinary Tract Infections at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua over a 1-year period (2023). Methods; A hospital based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua. Data for the study was collected from the bacteriology unit, entered into Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS statistical package. Results; A total of 584 respondents were analyzed, revealing a higher prevalence of UTIs in females (78.6%) compared to males (21.4%). The data indicated that individuals between 0-35 years exhibited the highest prevalence, emphasizing the vulnerability of younger adults to UTIs. Additionally, the correlation analysis identified Escherichia coli as the most prevalent organism causing UTIs, accounting for 106 cases, followed by Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella species. Conclusion; The findings emphasize the need for targeted healthcare strategies to address the high incidence of UTIs, especially in younger age groups. The predominance of Escherichia coli as the leading causative organism underscores the necessity for effective diagnostic and treatment protocols to combat these infections.