Asymptomatic Bacteuria among Healthy Cohort Using Dipstick Urinalysis from a Tertiary Health Care Facility in South East Nigeria

Dipstick urinalysis is a simple and cost effective method for screening of urinary abnormalities, thus enabling early detection and prompt management of renal pathologies. The aim of the study was to determine the pattern of urinalysis profile among apparently healthy cohorts using medical doctors of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. One hundred (100) medical doctors aged 20 to 50 years were selected through convenience sampling in a descriptive cross sectional study from August 20, 2020 to September 10, 2020. Ninety-One (91%) had their urine tested with dipstick test strips by Wellkang Ltd. Abnormal urinary findings occurred in 48 (52.8%) of the subjects which were blood 5 (5.50%), glucose 8 (8.80%), protein 15 (16.50%), nitrite 10 (11.00%), leucocyte 6 (6.60%) and Ascorbic acid 4 (4.40%). The prevalence of urine abnormality was higher in the 25-30year age group (48.4%), though not statistically significant (P>0.05). No significant association existed between pH and urine abnormality (p=0.5). No significant association existed between specific gravity and urine abnormality (p=0.5). It was concluded that the prevalence of urine abnormalities was significantly high (52.8%) with proteinuria and (11.0%) nitrites being the commonest abnormalities. Routine dipstick urinalysis is a cheap and simple method for early identification of urine abnormalities in apparently healthy cohorts using medical doctors and a positive dipstick test for proteinuria should prompt further evaluation for the presence of kidney disease. It is recommended that Urinalysis should be instituted as a routine test for medical doctors in hospitals because of its importance in disease surveillance.