Bacterial Urinary Tract Infection as Public Health Hazard among children in Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest bacterial infections seen by Pediatricians in children. However, diagnosis remains a difficult task probably because its presentation is non-specific and similar to other common illnesses. This study aims to isolate, identify and characterize urinary tract infection causing bacteria and to assess the incidence of UTI among various patients based on age, sex, and another socioeconomic status. Urine samples (N=80) of children below10 years of age that were suspected of urinary tract infection were sent for routine microscopic examination (GUE). Then urine samples were cultured on different culture media for microbiological investigation. Out of 80 Children who enrolled in this study, 17(42.55%) were male and 23(57.5%) were female. The majority of children in this study were feverish (fever>38 ͦ C) (62.5%) and the others had dysuria, frequency, and flank pain (52.5, 45, 40%) respectively. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common uropathogens responsible for UTI in comparison to Gram-positive bacteria. E. coli was the common uropathogen from Gram-negative bacteria followed by Klebsiella and Pseudomonas (44%, 12%, 4%) respectively, Staphylococcus aureus also appeared in high percent than other Gram-positive bacteria. In Conclusion, during the period of this study, E. coli is the most commonest uropathogen in children with UTI.