Investigation of bacterial UTI in Lahore, Pakistan; Extent, causes, and demographic factors

Abstract

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects different parts of the urinary system, including both the upper and lower tracts. The upper urinary tract consists of the kidneys and ureters, whereas the lower tract includes the bladder, urethra, and, in males, the prostate. When the infection occurs in the upper tract, it is referred to as a kidney infection, while an infection in the lower tract is known as cystitis or a bladder infection. UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria or fungi. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial causes of UTIs in Pakistan, with a focus on identifying the appropriate antibiotics, assessing epidemiological patterns—particularly among high-risk groups—and analyzing the infection rate based on gender and age. The research methodology involved collecting urine samples in sterile containers for culture and sensitivity testing. Various biochemical tests were conducted to isolate the organisms, and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the disk diffusion method. A total of 968 urine samples were collected and analyzed, revealing a UTI positivity rate of 25.10% (243 out of 968 patients). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was identified as the most common bacterial cause of UTIs, followed by Enterococcus, Proteus, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, and Enterobacter species. The findings indicated that UTIs were more prevalent in females than in males. Furthermore, it was more prevalent in higher age groups including 50 to 60 and above 60 years. Among the tested antibiotics, tetracycline showed the highest resistance, while chloramphenicol was found to be the most effective.

Keywords: Urinary Tract Infection, Epidemiology, Etiology, Treatment.