PREVALENCE OF Staphylococcus saprophyticus IN URINARY TRACT INFECTION AMONG YOUNG FEMALE ADULTS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Staphylococcus saprophyticus is the second most common cause of Urinary tract infection (UTI) in young sexually active female out-patients without known pre-existing kidney disease. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infection among female students of reproductive age in a University community. Early morning mid stream urine samples of 100 female students who were residing in the university hostel of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike were collected and screened for UTI by standard bacteriological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by the disc diffusion technique. The study recorded an overall UTI prevalence of 41%. Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the second most frequent cause of UTI in young females with a prevalence rate of 26.8%. Other bacteria isolates included Escherichia coli 19 (46.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2(4.9%), Citrobacter freundii 1 (2.4%), Klebsiella species 3(7.3%), Streptococcus species 3(7.3%) and Proteus species 2 (4.9%). Antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus saprophyticus showed 63.6% sensitivity to Cloxacillin, 54.5% sensitivity to Erythromycin, Gentamicin and Augmentin respectively. Findings from the study showed that Staphylococcus saprophyticus is an important uropathogen in adolescents and young adult females. The above drugs will be of local clinical relevance that can guide therapeutic prescriptions in this condition.