Author Identifier (ORCID)
Enoch Odame Anto: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9023-6612
Abstract
Background and Aims: Due to the reduction in immunity caused by auto-splenectomy and the consequent opsonic antibody shortage, patients with SCD are more susceptible to encapsulated organism infections, especially asymptomatic urinary tract infection (ASM-UTI). This study investigated the prevalence of ASM-UTI and compared urine and hematology parameters among SCD patients in Ghana to their healthy counterparts. Methods: In this study, 104 SCD participants (cases) and 80 non-SCD (HbAA) controls were recruited. Participants' information was thoroughly documented using a well-structured questionnaire and patient case records. To achieve the study's aims, a mid-stream urine in a cleaned dry aseptic urine capped container and venous blood were collected for laboratory analysis. Results: The prevalence of ASM-UTI among SCD participants and non-SCD (HbAA) individuals were 22 (21.2%) and 18 (22.5%) respectively. Among the 22 (21.2%) SCD individuals with ASM-UTI, 64% were HbSS and 36% were HbSC. S. aureus 15 (8.2%) accounted for the majority of the organisms isolated with the larger proportion 9(60.0%) isolated from the SCD patients. There was a statistical difference between SCD with ASM-UTI, without ASM-UTI, and non-SCD (HbAA) with respect to urine appearance (p = 0.047), proteinuria (p = 0.024), leukocyte (p < 0.0001). Significantly high total WBC (p < 0.0001), low platelets (p < 0.0001), and low hemoglobin (p < 0.0001) in SCD with ASM-UTI compared to non-SCD (HbAA) with ASM-UTI were also observed. Major risk factors associated with ASM-UTI includes a cloudy urine appearance, a positive (+1 and +2) urine leukocytes and positive (+1) urine bilirubin compared to having a clear urine appearance, negative leukocyte, and a negative bilirubin. Conclusion: This study has shown ASM-UTI to be common in adult SCD participants with higher rate in females. It has also showed that ASM-UTI can exist alongside other clinical states such as anemia, microalbuminuria, hematuria and proteinuria which are characteristics of kidney disease which can trigger crises in SCD participants.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
4-1-2025
Volume
8
Issue
4
Publication Title
Health Science Reports
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
81838
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Twumasi, S., Ansah, R. O., Essien‐Baidoo, S., Basing, L. A. W., Debrah, A. Y., Anto, E. O., ... & Boateng, L. A. (2025). Haemato-urological profile and asymptomatic urinary tract infection in Ghanaian steady-state sickle cell disease patients: A case-control study. Health Science Reports, 8(4), e70643. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70643