Incidence of Escherichia coli among patients presenting urinary tract infections

Abstract

Bacteriological examination was carried out on urine samples collected from patients visiting the inpatient and out-patient clinics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. A semi-quantitative methods using streak plate technique was employed. Of the 78 (42.3%) samples with significant bacteriuria, Escherichia coli constituted 16 (20.5%), Klebsiella species 8 (10.3%), Staphylococcus aureus 13(16.6%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 33 (42.2%), Diphtheroids 2(2.6%), Alcaligenes faecalis 2(2.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1(1.3%), Streptococcus faecolis 1 (1.3%) and Candida species 1 (1.3%). The results indicated high occurrence of E. coli species among pathogens isolated from the affected individuals.