Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among Apparently Healthy Undergraduate Students in Uyo, South-South, Nigeria

Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among apparently healthy undergraduate students in Uyo, South-South, Nigeria.
Methodology: Microscopic examination, bacteriological analysis and antibiotic susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates from mid stream urine samples of apparently healthy undergraduate students were carried out using standard microbiological and disc diffusion methods. The presence of glucose, protein, ketone and nitrite were determined using dip sticks.
Results: Microscopical analysis showed that aged 21-25yrs had the highest number of epithelial cells; while the highest yeast cells 6 (21.4%) were obtained in aged 26-30yrs. Only 30 (26.8%) samples had pus cells, 10 (8.9%) crystal cells, 22 (21.4%) cast cells and 26 (23.2%) red blood cells. Of the 112 samples collected, 14 (12.5%), 9 (8.0%), 6 (5.4%) and 4 (3.6%) had glucose, protein, ketone and nitrite, respectively. Age ranged ≤ 20yrs and 21-25yrs had no ketone and nitrite, while highest occurrence of protein was obtained in aged 26-30yrs. Significant bacteriuria (SBU) ranged from 16 (28.6%) in males to 20 (35.7%) in females with highest SBU in age ranged 26-30yrs. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli 32 (25.0%), Staphylococcus aureus 26 (20.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16 (12.5%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus sp 16 (12.5%), Streptococcus pyogenes 10 (7.8%), Serratia marcescens 10 (7.8%), Enterobacter sp 8 (6.3%), Klebsiella sp 6 (4.7%) and Enterococcus faecalis 4 (3.1%). Only 86 (67.2%), 90 (70.3%), 64 (50.0%) and 58 (45.3%) of the isolates were sensitive to Streptomycin, Ceftriaxone, Penicillin and Cotrimoxazole, respectively, while 20 (62.5%) of E. coli were sensitive to Streptomycin and Ceftazidime. S. aureus, S. marcescens, Enterobacter sp and E. faecalis were highly sensitive to Ciprofloxacin.
Conclusion: inclusion of assessments of asymptomatic bacteriuria as parts of the medical examination for students’ especially new entrants, in tertiary institutions should be adopted.