Culture Positive Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with and Without Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: One of the leading long-term complications of diabetes mellitus includes renal dysfunction and urinary tract infections (UTI) which are prevalent in uncontrolled diabetes. Moreover, physiological factors like age, gender, duration of diabetes, other diabetic complications like neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy and glycosuria are also considered as predisposing factors for increased prevalence of UTI in diabetes which can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. This study aimed to compare the frequency of culture positive urinary tract infection in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Methodology: This descriptive study was carried out at the department of general medicine, DHQ teaching hospital, Timergara during the period 16^th March 2023 till 15^th March 2024. A total of 270 male and female patients aging more than 40 years, with suspected urinary tract infection were enrolled. Urine culture was performed and growth of microbes (positive culture) was noted. Glycemic status of the patients was confirmed through history taking or biochemically by measuring Hba1c level in blood sample of patients. Presence or absence of diabetes was noted. Data was analysed using SPSS v.26.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 50.60±7.54 years. Participants aging more than 60 years were 79(29.3%) and 157 (58.1%) were male. BMI more than 24.0kg/m² was recorded in 141 patients (52.2%) while hypertension was the most frequently recorded comorbidity (n = 56, 20.7%). 63 patients (78.8%) with diabetes had positive urine culture as compared to 17 (21.2%) among patients without diabetes mellitus. The p value for difference in distribution of urine culture was <0.001.

Conclusion: The study identified diabetes as a significant risk factor for positive urine cultures in this middle-aged cohort. The strong association underscores the need for targeted monitoring of urinary tract infections in diabetic patients. Further research should investigate the underlying mechanisms linking diabetes to infection risk. Implementing routine screening in this high-risk group could improve early detection and clinical outcomes