Prevelance of asymptomatic bacteria in pregnant women at women and newborn hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, common causative microbes and their drug sensitivity patterns.

Abstract

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a significant number of bacteria in the urine (2 consecutive specimens with isolation of at least 100,000 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL of the same bacterial species) that occurs without usual symptoms of urinary tract infection. Pregnant women are generally at high risk. Urinary tract infection is responsible for a number of pregnancy adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, premature labour, premature rupture of fetal membranes, anaemia, preeclampsia, respiratory failure and risk of septicaemia and shock. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and its associated factors in pregnant women presenting to the University Teaching Hospital – Women and New-born Hospital (UTH-WNH) antenatal clinic. This was a cross sectional study involving 141 pregnant women. The participants were systematically selected among women attending antenatal clinics at UTH-WNH. The inclusion and exclusion criterion were applied. Consent was sought for those included. Data was collected from the participants in form of interviews and questionnaire. Clean catch urine specimens were collected from each of the study participants. Of the 141 pregnant women studied, 13 women had asymptomatic bacteriuria and the prevalence was 9.2%. The most common bacterial isolates where Staphylococcus Aureus, Staphylococcus Saprophyticus, Enterobacter Aerogens and Enterobacter Agglomerans. Other isolates included E. coli, Enterococcus Species and Klebsiella Oxytoca. Most bacteria were susceptible to nitrofurantoin. This prevalence is significantly high. The concern is that UTI in pregnancy may have serious consequences for both the mother and the child. Routine urine culture test should be carried out on all antenatal women to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria and provide appropriate antibiotics.