A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when a pathogen invades and multiplies within the urinary system, disrupting kidney and urinary function, and may present as symptomatic or asymptomatic bacteriuria (1). Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is the predominant agent leading to urinary tract infections (UTIs), and it is widely recognized that pregnant women are at a higher risk of experiencing UTIs (2). Urinary tract infections are highly prevalent in pregnancy and can pose significant risks for both the mother and the unborn child (3). Due to the anatomical, physiological, and functional changes brought on by pregnancy, the urinary system is frequently susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are a result of bacteria entering the urinary bladder (4). Globally, 13%–33% of pregnant women have UTIs, with 1%–18% experiencing symptoms and 2%–10% asymptomatic (5). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly seen in both community and hospital settings globally. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is the causative agent in up to 90% of UTIs acquired in the community and 50% of those acquired in healthcare facilities (1). Several factors, such as multiple pregnancies, age, a history of urinary tract infections, diabetes, anatomical abnormalities in the urinary tract, inadequate personal hygiene, and socioeconomic status, influence the occurrence of bacteriuria during pregnancy (6).

Escherichia coli is the most prevalent pathogen, causing between 75% and 90% of bacteriuria in pregnant women (7–9). Additionally, pregnant women are considered vulnerable hosts for UTIs due to the physiological changes associated with pregnancy, leading to compromised immunity (4). Long-term untreated UPEC infection has also been known to be associated with pregnancy complications such as eclampsia, low birth weight, and preterm birth (10). Therefore, early UTI diagnosis, appropriate management, and a suitable therapeutic and preventive approach are crucial to avoiding pregnancy complications (11). The bacterial population in the human body can be significantly influenced by brief antibiotic exposure, leading to the development of resistant pathogens and symbiotic organisms. Antibiotic resistance may result in heightened patient morbidity, prolonged treatment, increased hospitalization, and reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics (12). The emergence of drug-resistant strains of UPEC increases the serious threat to global health (13). The development of antimicrobial resistance in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) UPEC in recent years pose a clinical challenge, especially in women experiencing recurrent UTIs (14). The resistance patterns of bacteria can differ based on geographical location and time, highlighting the importance of regular testing for antibiotic resistance. E. coli strains are primary contributors to severe bacterial infections in healthcare settings, and distinct antibiotic patterns have been documented depending on the source (15).

Available literature reports indicate that there are high and worrying levels of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial drugs for treating UTIs in pregnancy, which is becoming an increasing cause for concern, especially in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) (16).

In Somalia, empirical treatment is usually used in place of routine UTI culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. This could encourage the excessive use of antibiotics and the emergence of microbial strains that are resistant to them (17). In Somalia, there are not many articles expressing any alarming issues, whether it is virulence, genotypes, or antimicrobials. Moreover, there are little or no published research results on the prevalence of E. coli and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in the country. Hence, this investigation aimed to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of uropathogenic E. coli and its associated factors among pregnant women attending the maternity department of Dr. Sumait Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia.

This study involved a total of 220 expectant women. Most (58.6%) study participants were 21–30 years old. A total of 85.9% were married, 40.5% had no formal education, 71.4% were unemployed, and 56.8% had a monthly income below US$200 (Table 1).

With respect to the age of gestation, most of the women (62.7%) were found to be in their third trimester. Similarly, 55.9% were primigravida, 59.6% had no history of abortion, and 95% had no history of diabetes. Similarly, according to the study, 71.9% of the participants had previously experienced UTI, of whom 51.4% presented urinary tract infection symptoms (Table 2).

Concerning the occurrence of E. coli 19.1% of the urine specimen collected from the pregnant women were found to be positive for an E. coli infection, as depicted in Figure 1.

Urinary tract infections are highly prevalent during pregnancy, with E. coli being the most common pathogen among expectant mothers. The anatomical and physiological alterations in the body during pregnancy can increase women’s vulnerability to developing UTIs (20). This study found that 19% (42/220) of the pregnant women were positive for Escherichia coli. A higher prevalence was reported in Kenya at 23.5% (21), southeast Ethiopia at 27.3% (22), and south-western Uganda at 28.78% (23). The variation may result from local social norms, environmental factors, personal hygiene expectations, and healthcare utilization patterns.

Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, it has been found that the monthly income of pregnant women below US$200 was notably associated with an E. coli infection. It has been revealed that expectant mothers who had a low monthly income were twice as likely to have UPEC compared to those who had a higher income. Similar study findings were reported from northern Ethiopia (24). This could result from the relationship between low socioeconomic status and poor nutrition and immunity, especially in pregnant women.

According to the gestational period, pregnant women who were first and second trimesters pregnant during the study period were 6.2 and 2.6 times more likely to get an E. coli infection, respectively compared to their third-trimester counterparts. Studies conducted in various locations yielded similar results in Saudi Arabia and Western and Northern Ethiopia (11, 24, 25). As argued by Tadesse et al. (24), this could be the result of UTIs in pregnant women, which usually initiate approximately at week six, reaching its peak between weeks 22 and 24. This is attributed to factors such as urethral dilation, heightened bladder volume, diminished bladder, and urethral tone, all of which foster bacterial proliferation in the urine.

Regarding the presence of UTI symptoms, expectant mothers with prior symptoms of UTIs exhibited a 2.4 times greater probability of developing a positive E. coli infection compared to those who had no symptoms. A similar study finding was reported in Khartoum, Sudan (26). This may be because E. coli is strongly linked to the typical symptoms of infection.

Moreover, the study revealed that pregnant women with a prior history of UTIs had a 4.5-fold higher likelihood of E. coli infection compared to individuals without a history of UTIs. This was similar to other studies from Libya, Egypt, and Nigeria (27–29). This association might be explained by the presence of strains resistant to antibiotics from previous infections.

In our study, no statistically significant correlation was observed between the prevalence of E. coli and age, educational attainment, employment status, gravidity, history of abortion, or history of diabetes mellitus. Studies conducted in Bangladesh and Nigeria revealed similar findings (30, 31). However, these studies reported that E. coli has a significant association with the mother’s gestational age. However, according to the comorbidities, previous studies identified that there is a significant association between having diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease and the risk of developing UTIs due to their altered immunological integrity (32).

As per the study findings, no distinctions were observed between uropathogenic E. coli and other uropathogenic infections concerning potential risk factors such as income, gestational age, and history of urinary tract infections. Comparable results were observed in studies conducted in both Eastern and Southeast Ethiopia (22, 33). On the other hand, it was observed that women from low-income families and those with a history of UTIs were 3.7 and 4.4 times more likely to contract an E. coli infection compared to their counterparts. A similar result was reported by a study conducted in Central Ethiopia (17). This might suggest that individuals with a lower income experience diminished socioeconomic status, leading to inadequate nutrition and weakened immunity, thereby elevating the likelihood of uropathogenic infections. Additionally, a prior history of UTIs during pregnancy, coupled with the persistence of antibiotic-resistant strains from the earlier infection, could contribute to the recurrence of such infections.

According to the study’s analysis of antibiotic susceptibility patterns, E. coli was most susceptible to amikacin (100%), followed by nitrofurantoin (85.7%), meropenem (83.3%), amoxicillin/clavulanic (83.3%), and gentamicin (76.2%). Similar results were observed in studies conducted in South Africa and Ethiopia (34–36). However, E. coli were resistant to nalidixic acid (80.9%), sulfamethoxazole (90.5%), and ampicillin (92.9%) This aligned with research conducted in Nairobi, Kenya (37).

According to the current study, uropathogenic E. coli bacteria were exceedingly resistant to third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) also observed resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in 68% of E. coli isolates and 81% of Klebsiella isolates (38, 39). Additional studies related to multi-drug resistance in uropathogenic E. coli bacteria have also been described (16, 40). The present investigation indicated that, regarding simple and complex bacteriuria, carbapenems are preferable to cephalosporins. The most prescribed antibiotics are easily accessible at nearby drugstores in Somalia, and people can buy and utilize them without needing a prescription, potentially hastening the onset of drug resistance.

The prevalence of E. coli was 19%. Monthly income, gestational period, previous experience of UTIs, and existence of symptoms of UTIs were associated with E. coli in antibiotic sensitivity patterns. The main antibiotics that proved effective against E. coli isolated from urine samples in pregnant women were amikacin, nitrofurantoin, and meropenem. It could be recommended that pregnant women in antenatal care have routine culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests to prevent resistance and complications in both the expectant mother and the unborn child.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving humans were approved by SIMAD University’s Human Research Ethics Review Board. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin.

FM: conceptualization. MA: methodology and data curation. HMD: data collection. JM: formal data analysis. HAD: writing original draft preparation. FM, HAD, JM, MA, and HMD: writing—review and editing. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.