Antibiotic use for urinary tract infections among women of reproductive age in Ghana

A cross-sectional study at St. Edwards Catholic Hospital, Adugyama, reviewed antibiotic use in 498 women aged 15–45 with urinary tract infections; cefuroxime was the most prescribed antibiotic and laboratory testing before prescription was performed in 28.5% of cases.

Researchers examined antibiotic use and prescriber practices for urinary tract infections among women aged 15–45 at St. Edwards Catholic Hospital in Adugyama, Ghana. The hospital-based cross-sectional study collected data from 498 patients using structured questionnaires, interviews, and medical record review. The analysis described antibiotic choices, clinical and behavioural factors, and associations between prescriber type and inappropriate prescribing. The authors report concerns about widespread empirical treatment and possible implications for antibiotic resistance. Key findings: - Cefuroxime was the most prescribed antibiotic, accounting for 65.3% of prescriptions. - Ciprofloxacin was the most frequently used medication on a weekly basis (35.7%). - Laboratory testing before prescription was reported in 28.5% of cases and testing after prescription in 10.2% of cases. - Half of participants (50%) reported dysuria, and 60.2% experienced symptoms lasting three months or more. - Prescriber type was associated with inappropriate antibiotic use, with registered nurses reported to have higher odds (cOR = 13.20, 95% CI: 3.12–50.51, p < 0.001; aOR = 12.55, 95% CI: 3.12–50.51, p < 0.001). - Recurrent UTIs were common, with 40% reporting two occurrences in the past year. Summary: The study documents frequent empirical antibiotic prescribing for UTIs and low reliance on laboratory confirmation, alongside common recurrence of symptoms. The authors report that inappropriate prescriptions were particularly associated with some prescriber groups and recommend strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, prescriber training, and diagnostic access. Undetermined at this time.