Prevalance of pregnancy associated asymptomatic bacteriuria: a study done in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of microbiology (IGMC) and the Department of obstetrics & gynecology (KNH), Shimla, and Himachal Pradesh over a period of 1 year from May 2005 to April 2006 on 463 asymptomatic pregnant females with a period of gestation (POG) 28 weeks or less. The aim was to find out the prevalence of pregnancy associated bacteriuria and bacterial causes responsible for this entity.

Methods: The pregnant women were taught to collect the urine sample by aseptic technique which was then subjected to semi quantitative culture method.

Results: Significant bacteriuria was present in 7.34% cases. About 78% samples were found to be sterile. Insignificant count and growth of contaminants was positive in 1 and 13% samples, respectively. The most common etiological agent came out to be E. coli followed by other gram positive and gram negative organisms.

Conclusion: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common occurrence which should be diagnosed and treated in early pregnancy keeping in view its adverse effects on pregnancy.