Abstract

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) refers to the presence of a bacterial isolate in urine culture in an asymptomatic person. Pregnant women with ASB are more likely to develop acute pyelonephritis in later pregnancy, postpartum urinary tract infection, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, anaemia, chronic renal failure, prematurity, low birth weight babies and prenatal death if untreated. The incidence of these can be reduced by treating ASB during pregnancy. Aims &
Objective: To study the incidence of asymptomatic Bacteriuria in pregnancy. Material and Methods: Approximate 20 ml of clean catch midstream urine samples were obtained from 100 pregnant women attending the Obstetric Outpatient Department. Samples were processed as per standard guidelines.
Results: Microscopic analysis of urine showed pus cells in 5 (45.45%) and Gram's stain smear showed bacteria in 9 (81.81%). Urine culture showed ASB in 11 (11%) pregnant women. Escherichia coli were found in 6 (54.55%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 3 (27.27%), Enterococcus sp. in 1 (9.09%) and Staphylococcus aureus in 1 (9.09%). Antibiotic sensitivity testing showed that all isolates were sensitive to all the antibiotics. Conclusion: Incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 11% in 100 pregnant women. Microscopic analysis of all 11 urine culture positive samples showed pus cells in 5 (45.45%) and Gram's stain smear showed bacteria in 9 (81.81%). The most common bacterial isolate was Escherichia coli (54.54%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (27.27%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.09%) and Enterococcus sp. (9.09%). Urine culture is necessary for screening pregnant women.