Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Among People Living Imo State, Nigeria

<ns3:p> Background Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is an under-recognized clinical condition, particularly in low-resource settings, with significant implications for antimicrobial resistance and public health. This study investigated the prevalence, microbial profile, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of ASB among individuals residing in public housing in Obinze, Imo State, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 randomly selected asymptomatic individuals. Structured questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data, assess hygiene practices, and evaluate ASB awareness. Midstream urine samples were collected and subjected to standard microbiological analyses, including culture, gram staining, and biochemical tests. The isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 28. Results A total of 75 bacterial isolates were recovered. <ns3:italic>Escherichia coli</ns3:italic> was the most prevalent organism (56%), followed by <ns3:italic>Staphylococcus aureus</ns3:italic> (28%), <ns3:italic>Enterococcus spp.</ns3:italic> , <ns3:italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</ns3:italic> (6.7% each), and <ns3:italic>Klebsiella spp.</ns3:italic> (2.6%). Most participants exhibited poor awareness of ASB, with only 2% accurately identifying its diagnostic threshold. Hygiene practices varied, with a high proportion reporting inappropriate genital cleaning methods and urination in public spaces due to a lack of sanitation facilities. Antibiotic resistance was observed among the isolates, highlighting the potential threat of community-based reservoirs for resistant strains. Conclusion This study revealed a high burden of ASB and identified critical gaps in public awareness, hygiene practices, and sanitation infrastructure. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health education, routine ASB screening, improved sanitation, and antibiotic stewardship programs to mitigate public health risks in similar settings. </ns3:p>