. Meenakshi Totadhri; . Anandhi Lakshmanan; . Saraswathy M P; . Manisha S. Mane
Volume 12, Issue 7 , August 2022, , Pages 1-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is commonly seen during pregnancy due to thevarious morphological, hormonal, and physiological changes the body undergoes. If left undiagnosed,it ...
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BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is commonly seen during pregnancy due to thevarious morphological, hormonal, and physiological changes the body undergoes. If left undiagnosed,it can lead to conditions such as pyelonephritis and preterm delivery which could culminate in causingmaternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence,risk factors, microbial profile, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns associated with ASB in a tertiaryhealthcare center.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was carried out where 150 urine sampleswere obtained from pregnant women within the gestational age of 13–36 weeks. Randomizedstratified sampling was the method of sampling used. A questionnaire was also administered tothem to determine potential risk factors. The samples were cultured and identified using biochemicaltests. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Statisticalanalysis was carried out using Chi‑square test. The graphs and tables were generated using MicrosoftExcel and Word.RESULTS: Out of the 150 samples that were obtained, 8 samples had significant bacteriuria whichis a prevalence of 5.33%. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated organism accountingto 45% of the isolates. The other organisms that were isolated were Enterococcus, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CONS), Candida albicans, and Group BStreptococcus which measured to 11% of the total distribution each. In the antibiotic sensitivitytests, among the gram‑negative isolates, marked resistance to Ampicillin and Amoxycillin along withsensitivity to Cotrimoxazole and Nitrofurantoin. Of the gram‑positive isolates, there was sensitivityto Ampicillin and Nitrofurantoin. A positive correlation was seen between the age groups of 23–27and the prevalence of ASB.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ASB in this study shows that ASB is not uncommon in thepopulation. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and National Health Missionrecommendations to make urine check‑ups a routine, it not carried out, possibly due to costimplications. However, it poses a risk for severe maternal and fetal outcomes and hence, should bescreened for on a regular basis. Thus, this study emphasizes the importance of screening pregnantwomen for ASB for promoting better maternal and fetal health.