Author Identifier
Enoch Odame Anto: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9023-6612
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Health Science Reports
Volume
8
Issue
4
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
81838
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.
DOI
10.1002/hsr2.70643
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