Introduction: Non-insulin diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for urinary tract infections. Irrational use of antibiotics has led to emergency of uropathogens resistant to available antibiotics. This study sampled diabetic patients to find the prevalence of urinary tract infection among them. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of the bacterial agents causing urinary tract infection among diabetic patients.

Method: One hundred and eighty (180) diabetic patients were recruited to take part in the study. Urine samples were collected and cultured for urinary tract infections diagnosis.

Results: Out of the 180 participants, 107 (59.4%) were male and 73 (40.6%) were female. The overall prevalence of urinary tract infections was 37 (20%). The bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli 21 (56.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 10 (27%), Proteus mirabilis 4 (10.8%) and Enterococcus faecalis 2 (5.4%). Prevalence of urinary tract infection was 64.9% in males and 35.1% in females.

Discussion: Urinary tract infection is a significant contributor to morbidity among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Findings from this study show a high prevalence of infection in males compared to females. Escherichia coli is the predominant isolate causing infection among the participants. The burden of management of this infection is still huge.

Conclusion: More males than females were involved in the study with females recording a lower prevalence of urinary tract infection compared to males.

Keywords: Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Urinary tract infection.

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Mageto Vincent Mogaka

International Rescue Committee, Nairobi