Predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women in a low-resource setting

Abstract

This study aims at identifying predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) among pregnant women in a low-resource setting, with the intent of recommending a guideline for screening during antenatal care. A total of 266 healthy pregnant women were antenatally recruited after informed consent. They had routine antenatal investigations, a 1 h 50-g oral glucose tolerance test and quantitative urine culture and sensitivity. The data collected were analysed using statistical software package SPSS v. 17. Prevalence of AB was 23 (8.6%). Escherichia coli was the commonest isolate (6, 26.1%), closely followed by Staphylococcus aureus (5, 21.7%). AB was commoner among patients aged 25-34 years, of low parity and higher education. Blood group B- rhesus-positive significantly predicts the likelihood of developing AB in pregnancy (adjusted OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.96). We conclude that blood group B-rhesus-positive in association with other patients' characteristics, such as age 25-34 years, low parity and higher education could form guidelines for a screening algorithm in our environment.

Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria; pregnancy; screening.