ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING THE OUTPATIENT CLINIC OF CHITWAN MEDICAL COLLEGE TEACHING HOSPITAL, CHITWAN, NEPAL

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) refers to both microbial colonization of the urine and tissue invasion of any structure of the urinary tract. Pregnancy enhances the progression from asymptomatic to symptomatic bacteriuria which could lead to pyelonephritis and adverse obstetric outcomes such as prematurity, low-birth weight, and higher fetal mortality rates. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy; its causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and also to determine the relationship between asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria. The total number of participants who finished the study was 392. The mean age of the participants was 29.76 ± 6.71(range, 21-37 years). Of the 392 urine specimens processed, 102 (26.0%) showed significant bacteriuria. The commonest organism causing bacteriuria was Escherichia coli. The sensitivity pattern of the isolated organisms revealed that all were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin at very high percentage. 200 (51.5%) women had more than 5 pus cells in urine specimens from which 50 (12.75%) had positive cultures. Women with higher number of pus cells in urine specimen had significantly higher asymptomatic bacteriuria (p < 0.0001).In conclusion, screening of bacteriuria in pregnancy and proper treatment must be considered as an essential part of antenatal care in Nepalese community. To prevent asymptomatic bacteriuria complications, all pregnant women should be screened at the first antenatal visit. A negative test for pyuria is not a reliable indicator of the absence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women.