Publication:

A study of risk factors and consequences of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women and feto-maternal outcome

Background The present study is undertaken to know the risk factors and consequences of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women attending Narayana Medical College Hospital, Nellore.

Methods 500 pregnant women were recruited for the study after their consent for participation. 85 women with culture positive for ASB were paired with 85 healthy pregnant women without bacteriuria to compare feto maternal outcome.

Results Antenatal complications like anemia (35%), PROM (14%), preterm labour (18%), IUGR (14%), preeclampsia (5%) and pyelonephritis (3.5%) were higher in culture positive group when compared to control group. There was an increased incidence of mid trimester abortions (4%) and increased rate of caesarean section (48%) in culture positive women cases when compared to controls. Puerperal complications like maternal wound infections (5%), puerperal fever (14%) and UTI (10%), were more in culture positive cases when compared to controls. In the present study, fetal complications like low APGAR (19%), low birth weight (20%) and neonatal infections (8%) were higher in culture positive group compared to control group proving a significant association with ASB.

Conclusions ASB is commonly encountered in pregnant women especially in women with anaemia. Untreated ASB is a risk factor for pyelonephritis, anaemia, PROM, preterm labour in mother. IUGR and neonatal infections are more common in fetus. Routine screening for ASB as a part of antenatal care reduces the maternal and fetal complications.