Urinary tract infections among pregnant women in Basrah, southern Iraq

ABSTRACT

The present paper reports the results of a study carried out to estimate the prevalence of urinary tract infection [UTI] during pregnancy among women attending for routine antenatal care in Basrah city, southern Iraq. The study also aimed at assessing the distribution of UTI with respect to such variables as age, parity, gestational age, symptomatology related to UTI and history of other medical illnesses. The types of organisms and their drug sensitivity were also determined. It was found that the prevalence of infections during pregnancy was estimated to be around 29.2% of which 17.7% were symptomatic. The nocturia and dysuria together were found to be the best predictors of UTI compared to other symptoms and nocturia and dysuria separately. The most common organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus [37.1%], Escherichia coli [31.5%] and klebsiella [10.1%]. Not unexpectedly gentamicin was the most effective drug against most isolated organisms giving an overall sensitivity rate of 82%