RESUMEN
To study the prevalence and complications of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. Descriptive Study [Cross. Sectional]. October 2001 to March 2002. There were 3000 houses in Satellite town and extension Behari colony Bahawalpur. Taking 40% of total, 1200 houses were selected by systemic random sampling and pregnant residents of these houses were included in the study. 580 ladies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were interviewed and tested for bacteriuria by Dip Stick test. 28 women had bacteriuria giving prevalence of 4.8%. Culture and sensitivity tests showed E-Coli to be the causative organism in 78.6% while 21.4% cases were due to other organisms. 35.7% bacteriuric women had positive past history of UTI compared to only 9.7% non-bacteriuriac women giving significant result regarding risk of recurrent infection [p<0.05]. Prevalence of anaemia was not much different in the two groups, 85.7% compared with 82.6%. [p>0.05]. Development of PIH was not found to be affected by bacteriuria as 10.7% bacteriuric and 8.9% non bacteriuric women developed PIH [p >0.05]. Similarly number of low birth weight babies was not much different in the two groups, 7.1% compared with 6.2% [p>0.05]. Bacteriuria was found to be a causative factor for preterm labour as 21.4% bacteriuric women compared with 4.9% non-bacteriuric women went into preterm labour [p<0.05]. Bacteriuria was found to increase the risk of symptomatic UTI as 14.2% bacteriuric and 2.7% non-bacteriuric women developed cystitis. [p<0.05]. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common infection during pregnancy and it increases the risk of symptomatic UTI and preterm birth