PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Objective: To study the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnant women of local population in Karachi. Design: Prospective, hospital based conducted during September 2001–March 2002. Setting: Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi. Subjects and Methods: Group A (study group) consisted of 290 pregnant women attending the OPD of Gynaecology and Obstetrics units for antenatal check up and Group B (control) consisted of 70 nonpregnant women of fertile age. Midstream urine was collected and aerobically incubated at 37oC on CLED agar. Growth of>1x105 CFU/mL was taken as significant bacteriuria. Gram-negative bacteria were identified by API 20-E and gram-positive by standard routine methods. Results: The two groups were age matched (P value>0.05). Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 6.2 % (18/290) in the study group and 2.85% ( 2/70) in control group. E. coli was the common uropathogen in both groups and Staph. saprophyticus the second common only in-group A. Prevalence of ASB remained statistically the same in pregnant and nonpregnant women (P value>0.05) by x2 application. Conclusion: Prevalence of ASB before pregnancy continues during pregnancy, if not treated. Uropathogens remain the same. All pregnant women should be screened for ASB by culture