MICROBIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF UROPATHOGENS CAUSING URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN DIABETICS

Abstract

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of infections most commonly urinary tract infections. The objective of this study was to determine the spectrum of bacterial pathogens causing UTI in diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad, from Jan to Dec 2019. A total of 292 patients with DM were enrolled in the study after informed consent regardless of the presence or absence of UTI symptoms. Patients with underlying renal pathology or chronic renal disease, pregnancy and antimicrobial therapy were excluded. Urine samples were taken and isolates were identified on the basis of colony morphology, gram staining, and biochemical reactions like catalase, coagulase, DNAse, oxidase test and Analytical Profile Index 20E strips (BioMerieux) as required. Results: A total of 292 patients were included. Mean age of the patients was 40.95±8.95 years. Out of these, 120 (58.90%) were male and 172 (41.10%) were females. The frequency of bacterial pathogens causing UTI was 37 (12.67%) for E. coli, 13 (4.45%) for Klebsiella spp, 5 (1.71%) for Proteus spp, 7 (2.40%) for Pseudomonas spp, 9 (3.08%) for Staphylococcus aureus, 7 (2.40%) for Enterococci, and in 214 (73.29%) patients there was no growth of any organism. Conclusion: E. coli is the most common bacterial pathogens causing UTI in diabetic patients.

Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):31?4