Assessing the Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Pregnant Women Suffering from Urinary Tract Infections in Al-Ramadi

Abstract Background: Bacteriuria, an excess of bacteria in the urine, may induce symptoms or be inconsequential. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women are frequently ascribed to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli , which are two well-known causative agents. The ethanolic extract of pomegranate peel may possess antibacterial properties that could protect against pathogenic microorganisms. Objectives: The objective of this research endeavor is to determine the effect of pomegranate peel ethanolic extract on S. aureus and E. coli . Materials and Methods: We utilized 100 samples from pregnant women diagnosed with chronic UTIs for the culture of the samples on selective and differential media. Subsequently, we employed biochemical assays to identify each isolate. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was tested using the Vitek 2 system. We tested the antibacterial activity of pomegranate peel ethanolic extract at concentrations of 50, 25, 75, and 100 mg/mL using the agar well diffusion method. Results: Out of a total of 100 specimens, 65% were found to be infected with E. coli and 35% were infected with S. aureus . Antimicrobial sensitivity testing for E. coli revealed high resistance rates to ampicillin (75%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (82%), ceftriaxone (82%), and cefepime (85%), with lower resistance observed for gentamicin (49%). S. aureus exhibited high resistance to ciprofloxacin (85%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (89%) while showing lower resistance to meropenem (50%). The antibacterial assay of the ethanolic extract of pomegranate peel indicated that, for E. coli , the lowest concentration (25 mg/mL) showed a lower percentage of inhibition zone at 10%, while the highest concentration (100 mg/mL) showed the highest percentage of inhibition zone at 48%. For S. aureus , the lowest concentration (25 mg/mL) displayed a lower percentage of inhibition zone at 12%, whereas the highest concentration (100 mg/mL) exhibited a higher percentage of inhibition zone at 38%. Conclusion: UTIs were most frequently caused by E. coli , followed by S. aureus ; these specific isolates demonstrate significant resistance to the majority of antibiotics. Pomegranate peel ethanolic extract possesses antibacterial properties and may be considered for administration to humans.