Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women attending Antenatal Clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; Kumasi; Ghana

ABSTRACT

Objective: Symptomatic bacteriuria is common in pregnant women and if untreated could lead to serious complications. Although asymptomatic bacteriuria could also lead to such complications; this fact is not so well known. This study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteri-uria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Kumasi.Design: A prospective study to screen antenatal attendants for asymptomatic bacteriuria.Setting: The study was undertaken at KATH.Participants: All pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic at KATH; Kumasi between February and April 2003 and who agreed to enter the study were clinically evaluated to exclude signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI).Methods: Samples of 10-15ml urine were exam-ined for pus cells; bacteria and parasitic ova. The samples were further cultured on cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar and colony counts yield-ing bacterial growth of 105/ml or more of pure isolates were deemed significant.Results: Of the 220 pregnant women; 16 had sig-nificant bacteriuria giving a prevalence rate of 7.3. The highest age-specific prevalence was found in the 35-39 year-olds (13) and the lowest in the 15-19 year-olds (0.0). There was no sig-nificant difference in prevalence with increasing parity. The dominant bacteria isolates were E. coli (37) and Staph aureus (31).Conclusion: The prevalence of asymptomatic bac-teriuria in pregnant women at KATH is 7.3. The predominant organisms are E.coli and Staph au-reus; and most isolates are sensitive to nitrofuran-toin; cefuroxime and gentamicin