Bacterial profile and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of UTI pregnant women in Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq

Background. UTIs are prevalent illnesses, particularly in pregnancy, caused by the presence and proliferation of bacteria in the urinary tract, with E. coli being the most prevalent pathogenic bacteria, accounting for 60–80% of cases. Objective. The aim of the current study was to identify the frequency of bacteria that cause UTIs and their antibiotic resistance in pregnant mothers in Thi-Qar Governorate. Material and method. In the present study, 138 pregnant individuals were enrolled. Each participant provided urine samples, which cultivated on routine media followed by biochemical tests. The pathogenic bacteria were identified, and their antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the fully automated VITEK 2 compact system. Result. The incidence ratio of positive urine culture was 82 (59.42%), whereas negative culture was 56 (40.58%) (p ≤0.025). Bacterial culture findings of the GN isolates showed that E. coli was in the lead with 53 (88.3%) isolates. Conversely, Enterobacter spp. had the lowest isolation rate, with only two isolates (3.4%) (p ≤0.001). According to the number of pregnancies, the first pregnancy had the highest infection rate for UTIs, with 31/82 (37.8%) (p ≤0.01), and the prevalence of UTIs was relatively high in the O blood group, with 28 patients (34.14%) (p ≤0.05). The third trimester had the highest infection rate, 60/82 (73.17%) (p ≤0.005). The most sensitive antibiotics were 100% Tigecycline. The highest percentage of resistance was 75% found against Ciprofloxacin (p ≤0.001). Conclusion. UTIs, primarily caused by E. coli, pose a significant health risk for expectant mothers and can be reduced through antibiotic use, sustainable prenatal care, and health education.