International Journal of Renal Diseases

PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA AMONG ANTENATAL WOMEN AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA IN URINE

Asopa Juhi*, Dadhich Y and Mathur SA

drjuhidadhich@rediffmail.com

Asymptomatic bacteriuria, Primigravidae, Pyuria, Urine.

The present study was carried out on pregnant women between 20-24 weeks of gestational age attending antenatal clinics at Rajkiya Mahila Chikitsalya, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India during a period of one year to find out prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and to identify the most common causative agents among the isolated microorganisms. All women were subjected to complete urine examination and urine culture to find out asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and were categorized as urine culture positive and urine culture negative. Out of total patients screened, 10.66 % patients were found urine culture positive and 89.33% patients were found urine culture negative. Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 10.66% in present study. Incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was higher in 23-27 year of age group and was 43.75%. Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was marginally higher among primigravidas (56.25%). Pyuria as a screening test had sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 96.27%. On the basis of upshot of the present study, it can be stated that urine microscopy is not a reliable screening test to diagnose asymptomatic bacteriuria. The most common organism found was E.Coli to be associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria. In present study it was found in 87.5% of culture positive patients. Urine culture can be considered as the gold standard test for the diagnosis of ASB. It is suggested that all women attending antenatal clinics should be subjected to urine culture at 20-24 weeks of gestation, so that symptomatic bacteriuria can be detected well in time. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is the key threat for building up symptomatic urinary tract infection and is linked with considerable maternal and foetal perils. Therefore it can be recommended that every acute infection of the urinary tract throughout pregnancy necessitates instantaneous diagnosis and treatment. In untreated cases, the disease may go up and cause grim problems. Urine culture test should be customarily carried out for all antenatal women to reveal asymptomatic bacteriuria and each positive case must be treated appropriately to avert obstetric complications.