Susceptibility of urinary tract bacteria to antibiotics in Cape Coast, Ghana

A total of 857 urine specimens were received at the Cape Coast Central Hospital between 1993 and 1995 for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Of these, 225 (26.2%) yielded significant bacterial growth. Twelve organisms were isolated with Escherichia coli, coliforms and Klebsiella species accounting for about 79% of all bacterial isolates. Over 76% of isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole, ampicillin and tetracycline. However, over 81% were sensitive to cefuroxime, gentamicin, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin. Except for cefuroxime, the sensitivity of isolates to all antibiotics tested were generally lower in 1995 than in 1993. A decreasing trend in the antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli over the three-year period was observed.