Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections among outpatients at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the common bacterial infections in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of UTIs among adult male and female outpatients at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh and to identify age groups and seasonal variations associated with higher prevalence rates. A total of 170 midstream urine samples were collected from 70 males and 100 females (16 -75 years old), at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMC) in Dhaka for microscopic analysis. The streak plate method was used, where a loopful of each urine sample was inoculated onto selective and differential media for bacteriological analysis. The participants were categorized into three age groups: 16–35 years, 36–50 years, and 51–75 years. The study was conducted during two seasons: spring and summer. The results revealed that 110 samples (64.71%) tested positive for Escherichia coli, with 62.86% of males and 66% of females testing positive. Among females, the highest prevalence (87.5%) was found in middle-aged adults (36–50 years), while the lowest (44.44%) was in older adults (51–75 years). For males, the highest prevalence (83.33%) was also observed in the middle-aged group, and the lowest (58.33%) was in young adults (16–35 years). Additionally, prevalence was higher in summer, where 70% for females and 66.67% for males, compared to spring, where 63.33% for females and 58.82% for males. The high prevalence of UTIs underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the need for future research on microbial patterns and antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh

Bangladesh J. Zool. 54(1): 61-74, 2026