Abstract

PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN PREGNANCY

*Bushra Mohammed Saeed Jaber and Ahlam Hammadi Issa

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common infection. Pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria are at an increased risk for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes which could be prevented by antimicrobial therapy. Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is a standard of obstetrical care and is included in most antenatal guidelines. There is good evidence that treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria will decrease the incidence of pyelonephritis. All pregnant women should be screened for asymptomatic bacteriuria, and there are no new data that would indicate otherwise. Antibiotic treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with a decrease in the incidence of preterm delivery or low birth weight, but the methodological quality of the studies means any conclusion about the strength of this association needs to be drawn cautiously. A better understanding of the mechanism by which the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria could prevent preterm delivery is needed.

Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, pregnancy.