Abstract

The main risk factor for symptomatic urinary tract infection during pregnancy is asymptomatic bacteriuria. It has been advised to screen for and diagnose bacteriuria during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The study had a cross-sectional design and was descriptive in nature. All patients who presented for their first antenatal appointment in a row and gave their agreement to participate in the trial were enrolled. One hundred and ten patients participated in the study. Following proper counselling and instruction, participants' urine was collected. Every sample underwent thorough urine analysis tests. Individuals who had positive bacteriuria urine culture results had treatment in accordance with the antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among our obstetric patients was 10.7%. The prevalence was higher among women aged between 16-20 years (33.3%) and 31-35 years (12.1%). Prevalence was also higher among para 2 and in 2nd and 3rd trimesters. However, the influence of these demographic parameters, parity and gestational age on prevalence rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria was not statistically significant. The bacterial pathogens causing asymptomatic bacteriuria were predominantly coliforms (Klebsiella and E. coli) accounting for 45.5% and staphylococcus saprophyticus (27.3%). Conclusion: The need for routine prenatal screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is highlighted by the relatively high prevalence of the illness in this centre. In our limited resource scenario, urine analysis techniques may be more cost-effective for screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria due to their fair sensitivity and high specificity.

Description