Urinary Tract Infections in Rural Nigerian Adolescents: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and the Role of Staphylococcus saprophyticus

A bstract Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a serious risk to children and adolescents, potentially leading to chronic kidney damage if left untreated. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of UTIs among adolescents in rural south-eastern Nigeria and the contribution of Staphylococcus saprophyticus as an etiological agent. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2023 among 210 secondary school students aged 10–18 in rural communities of Anambra State, Nigeria. Participants’ urine samples were analyzed using dipstick urinalysis and microscopy, culture, and sensitivity analyses. Data were analyzed with the STATA 16.0 at 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of UTI was 6.19% (n = 13), and significant risk factors included being a day student ( P < 0.001) and attending co-educational schools ( P < 0.001). E. coli contributed to 53.9% (n = 7) of UTIs cases, followed by Klebsiella spp., 30.8% (n = 4), the least contributed by Enterobacter spp., 15.4% (n = 2). There was no recorded case of Staphylococcus saprophyticus . Conclusion: The low prevalence of UTI and the absence of S. saprophyticus as a causative agent suggest that routine screening may not be necessary for healthy in-school adolescents in this population. These findings highlight the importance of application of targeted prevention strategies for day students and adolescents in co-educational schools.