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Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnancy: Much Ado about Nothing?


A Omole-Ohonsi
EE Nwokedi

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence, influence of socio-demographic characteristics and trimesters on the incidence and pattern of bacterial infection at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Patients and Methods: This cohort study of asymptomatic bacteriuria among antenatal women was carried out between 1st January 2006 and 31st December 2006. The study variables of interest were the incidence and socio-demographic characteristics of the women that were followed up, incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the three trimesters, and pattern of bacterial infection. The results obtained were recorded using tables and pie chart. Chi-square test and analysis for linear trend in proportions were used to determine association between qualitative variables, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among the recruited pregnant women was 8.0%. Escherichia coli (E coli) and Klebsiella were the commonest microbial organisms that were isolated. Age (X2 trend= 94.91, P < 0.05), parity (X2 trend= 21.28, P <0.05), and trimesters (X2 trend = 56.24, P< 0.05) showed direct correlation, while educational status (X2 trend = 9.97, P < 0.05) showed inverse correlation with incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Conclusion and Recommendations: Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy is a common condition in our obstetric practice. Health education about personal hygiene should be emphasized in our antenatal clinics. Urine microscopy to screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria at booking, and in each of the trimesters should be recommended. Identified cases should be treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy based on sensitivity test.

Key words: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, pregnancy, incidence, socio-demographic factors.

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njcm.v4i1.5

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eISSN: 2141-1123
print ISSN: 2141-1123