Microbial Profile and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Urine and Biofilm Pathogens Isolated from Catheterized Patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Introduction: Urinary tract infection represents more than 40% of all nosocomial infections of which 80% are attributed to the use of an indwelling urinary catheter. Although the device is useful medically to treat urinary retention and incontinence, its uses have also been associated with infections such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Objectives: To evaluate catheter-associated urinary tract infection in terms of its prevalence, pathogens causing the infection and the resistance pattern to some commonly used antibiotics. Methods: Urine and biofilm specimen were collected from 105 catheterized patients. Bacteria pathogens were identified based on colony morphology, Gram staining and other biochemical reactions. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolated pathogens. Results: The study recorded a 74.29% prevalence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection among the rarely symptomatic patients. Escherichia coli were significantly isolated (p Staphylococcus aureus. Most isolated pathogens from both samples were resistant to ciprofloxacin with the biofilm pathogens being highly resistant than the urine pathogens. K. pneumoniae from both samples showed higher resistance levels to antibiotics than E. coli and S. aureus. Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin, a commonly used antibiotic by catheterized patients turn out to be less effective against the pathogens. The use of ciprofloxacin in catheter-associated urinary tract infection treatment should therefore be given a second thought.