Abstract:
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ABSTRACT
Background: S. saprophyticus was the second most common cause of acute urinary tract
infections in reproductive-age women. Its infection is severe with associated significant impacts
to public health, and it has a variety of prevalence from place to place. However, there is limited
study on it in Harar, Eastern, Ethiopia.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility
patterns of S. saprophyticus among reproductive age women suspected of urinary tract infections
at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia from May to July 2024.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on a total of 229
reproductive-age women between 15-49 years were included by using convenience sampling
techniques. Pertinent data were collected through a face-to-face interview using a structured
questionnaire. Ten milliliters of midstream urine specimen was collected, and cultured on
cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar, and blood agar plate. The modified Kirby-Bauer disk
diffusion techniques were used to determine drug susceptibility patterns. Data were entered into
Epi data version 3.1, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.
Logistic regression was performed to check an association between variables. A P-value < 0.05
was considered statistically significant.
Results: From 229 study participants screened for infections, the prevalence of S. saprophyticus
among reproductive age women were 8.7% (95% CI:5.4-13.2). In multivariate analysis,
catheterization history (AOR: 7.7, 95% CI: 2.6-23.2), and sexual history (AOR: 7.8, 95% CI:
2.5-23.9) were significantly associated with S. saprophyticus. The major isolates were resistant
to NA 95%, FOX 90%, and AMP 85%.
Conclusion: From clinically screened participants 8.7% were caused by S. saprophyticus.
Dysuria, catheterization and sexual history increase the odd of infection. High resistant showed
on drugs like NA, FOX and AMP. Further exploration is recommended on molecular level
studies to investigate the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in S. saprophyticus.
