URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN PREGNANCY: WHAT IS THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA DURING PREGNANCY AND ITS CAUSATIVE AGENTS AND THEIR SENSITIVITY.

Urinary tract infections are most common medical complication in pregnancy and most common among this is pyelonephritis. The combination of hormonal and physiologic changes during pregnancy contributes to significant changes in urinary tract, which has a profound impact on the acquisition and natural history of bacteriuria during pregnancy. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is high among antenatal women in India. It leads to various complications in Antenatal period. Causative agents and their sensitivity to drugs vary in different region. In India, screening of asymptomatic bacteriuria is not considered an essential part of antenatal care like routine check-up for albumin and sugar in urine. These tests have poor positive and negative predictive values to detect bacteriuria in asymptomatic bacteriuric persons. Urine culture and sensitivity is considered as the gold standard to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria. The proper screening and treatment of bacteriuria during pregnancy is necessary to prevent complications. Therefore for appropriate treatment, it is required to stay abreast of information about the pathogens and their sensitivity. Thus it is recommended to obtain a urine culture in pregnant women and in whom asymptomatic bacteriuria detected should be treated with antibiotics targeting the cultured organisms and they should undergo follow-up monitoring.