Publication:

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in early pregnancy: an analysis

Background Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as greater than 100,000 organisms in the urine of a person who lacks symptoms. The objective of present study was to find out the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in women attending the antenatal OPD in a tertiary care centre and to study the effect of screening and treatment on maternal and fetal outcome.

Methods The study was conducted at OG Department, Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital over a period of ten months from March 2014 to Dec. 2014. Antenatal women at 12-16 weeks were screened by collecting clean catch midstream urine samples and doing routine urine analysis, culture/sensitivity and colony count. Treatment was given to all bacteriaurics with oral cephalexin and for persistent cases with Inj. gentamycin. Repeat culture was done at second and third trimesters.

Results In this study, the incidence of ASB was found to be 10.8%. It was more common among primi gravida (13.98%) and the incidence was found to be high in low socio economic groups (12.4%). In present study E. coli was 88.88%, Klebsiella 7.4% and Staphylococcus aureus 3.7%. Anemia was found in 37.04% of bacteriurics, preeclampsia in 7.4%, preterm delivery in 14.82% and low birth weight in 18.5% of bacteriurics.

Conclusions Treatment of ASB during pregnancy at the first antenatal visit decreases the incidence of preeclampsia, premature delivery, low-birth weight and perinatal mortality.