Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection known to affect the different part of the urinary tract. It affects all age groups ranging from neonates to the geriatrics population and about 150 million people worldwide were diagnosed with urinary tract infection [1]. This class of infection can be classified as complicated or uncomplicated. Uncomplicated UTI is the most common type of functional or anatomical abnormalities with the urinary tract. The complicated one occurs in the presence of an abnormal urinary tract that increases susceptibility to infection2. The uropathogenic bacteria express fimbrial adhesion that they attach to the glycolipids and glycoprotein on the epithelial surface. In this way bacteria can overcome the flow of urine and maintain in the urinary tract. The bacteria also produce other subtances such as toxins, hemolysis and colony necrotizing factors. These agent disrupt epithelial integrity, permit bacteria invation and therefore enhance the risk of infection [2]. Uropathogen also can internalize into host epithelial cells and divide inside there, so that it provides a reservoir for recurrent infection [3]. The symptoms of UTIs such as fever, burning sensation while urinating, lower abdominal pains and pyunia, itching, formation of blisters and ulcers in the genital area, genital and suprapubic pain and pyunia generally depend on the age of the person infected and the location of the urinary tract infections [4].

Urinary tract infection affects both sexes. It is common in women especially during reproductive sexually active period. This is because of their short urethra, trauma during intercourse and the absence of bactericidal secretions [5-6].

Urine samples were collected from a total of 160 students, male and female between the age of 16 to 30 years. All these students were attending the University medical center with complaints of burning sensation, pain while urinating and lower abdominal pain and were requested to carry out urine culture and sensitivity test.

Sample Collection

Sterile universal bottles was provided for the students and an instruction was given on how the urine is provided and to avoid delay in delivery to the laboratory. The samples were labelled and transported to the Microbiology laboratory of the University Medical center and were analyzed within 30 minutes to one hour of collection.

Isolation and Identification of Bacteria

Each mid-steam urine was cultured on Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte deficiency (CLED) and Blood agar was described by cheesebrough [7] where every specimens that yielded a pure heavy growth of bacterial pathogen were transferred to Nutrient Agar slants and stored in the refrigerator at 4C. Suspected bacterial species were characterized by grain staining, part of the urine sampled was centrifuged, the supernatant discarded and deposit examines with microscope with *10 and *40 objective for Pus cell (white blood cells). Other notable test, motility test, coagulase, catalase and biochemical tests were identified according to standard bacteriological methods by [7].

In this study, urine culture that showed 10 [5] bacterial colonies per ml of urine were said to have significant growth. 58 bacterial growth were isolated that yielded significant growth in 160 specimen examined. 103 (64.4%) of the students investigated were in the age group ranged 16 – 20 years.

Table 1: Age and Sex Distribution of the Investigated Students

Table 1. The evidence of bacterial infection reflected in the urine samples which were positive on culture Table 2. 

Table 2: Number of Students with Positive Urine Culture

Showed that 39/58 (67.2%) were female. The severity of the infection denoted presence of pus cell (pyunia) Table 3.

Table 3: Degree of Severity Based On WBC (Pus Cells)

The etiological agent identified which was the causative organism for the infected students in Table 4. 

Table 4: Percentage Occurrence and Distribution of Bacterial Pathogen in UTI among Students

Escherichia coli accounted for 24/58 (41.3%) which was the highest isolates bacteria. Table5 illustrated its overall prevalence with age distribution of bacterial pathogens in Urinary tract infection (UTI) among university students.

Table 5: Overall Prevalence with Age Distribution of Bacterial Pathogens in UTI among University Students

Urinary tract infection occurs in all age groups mostly the age of reproductive life. This study was not in agreement with [1] that referred to age group 20 -30 years as the most vulnerable, while age 16 – 20 years accounted for 64.4% in this report, the reason could be attributed to the fact that greatest number of students mostly admitted into the university are at this age. Also not in consonance with this study was [8] who was reported that increased prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI) was observed in the age group of 25 -34 years. Table 1 gave the summary.

Our study demonstrated Escherichia coli as the most prevalent bacterial uropathogen with 24/58 (41.3%). Table 4. This finding is comparable with other studies elsewhere in Africa indicating 40 – 46% of isolation are Escherichia coli [9-11]. The high prevalence of 39/58/67.2% of the age and sex distribution is the female gender. This could be due to the close proximity of the anus to the vagina. The high possibility of UTIs in female is due to the inherent virulence of Escherichia coli for urinary tract colonization such as its abilities to adhere to the urinary tract and also association with other microorganism moving from the perineum areas contaminated with faecal microbes to the moist warmth environment of the female genital [12-13]. The incidence of microorganisms associated with UTI showed variation in different countries, Escherichia coli remained the most prevalent uropathogens. In this study, the prevalence of Escherichia coli was 41.3% when compared with other countries, Australian study (73%) [14] Pakistan [15] and Kenyan study (40%) [16]. The incidence of UTI in females was far more common than male due to anatomical and physiological factors. The number of students with bacteriuria was more in female (67.2%) than the male (32.8%). The risk factor women include malnutrition, poor hygiene, low socio economic status, age at first sexual intercourse, and use of barrier contraceptive (diaphragm, cervical cap, male condom, spermicide, recent sexual intercourse, frequent sex and prior antimicrobial use [17]. Women in college have been reported to have a higher incidence of uncomplicated UTI which may be undetected until they result in complications [18-20].

Staphylococcus aureus was the second most isolated bacterial uropathogen with 26% of the frequency. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in this study varied from previous studies [21-23].

The microbe isolated from urine includes: Escherichia coli 24(41.3%) Staphylococcus aureus 15(26%). Klebsiella spp 8(13.7%) Proteus mirabillis 6(10%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3(5%) and Streptococccus faecalis 2(4%). This report was in agreement with the previous work of [24] which emphasized the occurrence and extent of the prevalence of one or more of these organisms amidst others are environmentally dependent.

Urinary tract infection can be minimized generally, if we change our attitude to health by doing routine medical check-up regularly. However, on the part of the students, good hygiene, regular supply of water in their residential quarters/hostel and health education talk on the implications of the infection will stem the tide.

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