Genotypic characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing urinary isolates among pregnant women in Ho municipality, Ghana

OBJECTIVE: The case of antibiotic resistance has become a major global concern and Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms have so far remained the biggest culprit. The consequences of urinary tract infection (UTI) and antibiotic resistance among pregnant women cannot be underestimated. We investigated UTI and ESBL production among urinary pathogens isolated from pregnant women. METHOD: We obtained non-repeat, clean catch midstream urine samples from 1345 pregnant women suspected of having UTI for bacterial identification at the Ho Teaching Hospital Laboratory between June 2013 and March 2015. The isolates were taken through relevant biochemical testing for identification and then subjected to antimicrobial agents for susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion method. We tested for ESBL production by the combined disc method and ESBL positive (+ESBL) phenotype isolates were genotyped for Bla(TEM), Bla(SHV,) and Bla(CTX-M) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were analyzed using SPSS v24 and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 1345 urine samples tested, 230 (17.1%, 95% CI: 15.1%–19.1%) yielded significant bacteriuria. The most common bacterium isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (29.6%) followed closely by Escherichia coli (28.7%) both of which were highest during the second trimester of gestation. We isolated 152 gram-negative isolates with 41.4% (63/230) being + ESBL. Of the 63 + ESBL, 45 (71.4%) possessed bla(TEM), 42 (66.7%) had bla(CTX-M) and 2 (3.2%) possessed bla(SHV) genes; 38 possessed multiple ESBL genes comprising 2 with both SHV and TEM genes and 36 with both CTX-M and TEM genes. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of UTI and persistent transmission of ESBLs among pregnant women in the Ho Municipality is worrying and a course for public health concern. We recommend urine culture during pregnancy as a routine laboratory investigation to avoid birth-related complications.