International Journal of Microbiology and Immunology Research Vol. 3(5), pp. 058-063, August 2015 ISSN 2327-7769 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy in Adama city, Ethiopia

Abdul Kairun Nisha*, Alemayehu Edossa Etana and Hailemichael Tesso

School of Applied Sciences, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: akn1994@gmail.com.

Accepted 29 June, 2015

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) during pregnancy is the primary cause of acute pyelonephritis, preterm labor, low birth weight fetus, etc., if left untreated. Adequate and early treatment reduces the prevalence of these obstetric complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ASB during pregnancy and to detect the effective antimicrobial regimen. A total number of 367 pregnant women were included in the present study for a period ranging from September 2014 to May 2015. Out of the 367 patients studied, ASB was observed in 59 patients (16.1%), while UTI was recorded in 98 patients (26.6%). Maternal age, parity and gestational age did not significantly affect the prevalence of mixed infection (P>0.05). The highest rate of ASB was reported in the age group of 30-35 years and the lowest was in the age group of 15 - 20 years. Esherichia coli was detected as the predominant etiological agent (37.3%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the least detected (10.2%). Similarly, higher mixed infection rates were shown in the age group of >35 years. Quinolones were the most active antibacterial agent observed in this study. though ASB is not infrequent in antenatal patients. The high prevalence warrants that all pregnant women should be screened by urine culture to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria at their first visit to prevent overt urinary tract infections (UTI) and other complications in both mother and fetus.

Key words: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, incidence, pregnancy, urinary tract infections, antimicrobials.