RESUMEN
Urinary tract infections represent a major health problem in many parts of the world. The purpose of this report is to find out the prevalence of bacterial urinary tract infection in a sample of asymptomatic preschool female children and to identify the infecting organisms among them. Mid-stream specimens of urine were collected from 600 female children selected from various districts of Babel governorate. Bacterial cultures were performed on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. Diagnosis of bacteriuria was made by bacterial count. A bacterial colony count of >/= 10[5]/ml of urine was considered as evidence of significant bacteriuria. The prevalence rate of significant bacteriuria among the 600 female children was 13.3%. Age variations of the prevalence of significant bacteriuria were of statistical significance. Prevalence of bacterium was significantly associated with the place of residence, educational level of mother, availability of a municipal piped water supply, birth weight, and prematurity of the child. The most frequently encountered bacterium was Escherichia coli which accounted for 75% of isolates. Asymptomatic urinary tract infection needs to be considered in young female children with underlying voiding anomalies. They should be referred appropriately for further evaluation and treatment