PREVALENCE AND COMPLICATIONS OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA DURING PREGNANCY

Objective: To study the prevalence and complications ofasymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. Study Design: Descriptive Study (Cross. Sectional). Duration of Study:October 2001 to March 2002. Patients and Methods: There were 3000 houses in Satellite town and extension Beharicolony Bahawalpur. Taking 40% of total, 1200 houses were selected by systemic random sampling and pregnantresidents of these houses were included in the study. Results: 580 ladies fulfilling the inclusion criteria wereinterviewed and tested for bacteriuria by Dip Stick test. 28 women had bacteriuria giving prevalence of 4.8%. Cultureand sensitivity tests showed E-Coli to be the causative organism in 78.6% while 21.4% cases were due to otherorganisms. 35.7% bacteriuric women had positive past history of UTI compared to only 9.7% non-bacteriuric womengiving significant result regarding risk of recurrent infection (p<0.05). Prevalence of anaemia was not much differentin the two groups, 85.7% compared with 82.6%. (p>0.05). Development of PIH was not found to be affected bybacteriuria as 10.7% bacteriuric and 8.9% non bacteriuric women developed PIH (p >0.05). Similarly number of lowbirth weight babies was not much different in the two groups, 7.1% compared with 6.2% (p>0.05). Bacteriuria was foundto be a causative factor for preterm labour as 21.4% bacteriuric women compared with 4.9% non-bacteriuric womenwent into preterm labour (p<0.05). Bacteriuria was found to increase the risk of symptomatic UTI as 14.2% bacteriuricand 2.7% non-bacteriuric women developed cystitis. (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a commoninfection during pregnancy and it increases the risk of symptomatic UTI and preterm birth.