RESUMO
Significant bacteriuria in pregnancy, particularly when asymptomatic remains a major problem due to the many complications that have been associated with this condition. In this study, 457 samples of midstream urine from pregnant women attending the UWI-ANC and the CHC-ANC and 164 from non-pregnant women attending the Freezone clinic were collected between March 18 and April 11, 1994. Laboratory investigations to determine significant bacteriuria, the distribution of isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility were performed. Population characteristics such as age, parity, socio-economic status and gestational age as well as the presence of symptoms consistent with urinary tract infection and choice of treatment were ascertained via the use of a questionnaire. The level of contamination among the samples was compared with that found in the Microbiology Laboratory UWI within the same period. While the prevalence of significant bacteriuria in pregnancy was 19.6 percent, that of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 13.3 percent compared with 7.3 percent among non-pregnant women. This difference was of statistical significance (p < 0.01). Statistical significant association existed between bacteriuria and the presence of symptoms, pyuria, gestational age. None was found with age, parity and socio-economic status. The three most common isolates were Streptococcus group B, Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. Resistance to Ampicillin was high (37.8 percent) while resistance to Bactrim was low (3.3 percent). The level of contamination of samples from pregnant women was 4.2 percent compared to 11.5 percent found in the laboratory. This study highlighhts the problem of asymptomatic bacteriuria and suggests the need for further studies using larger samples to confirm these interesting findings (AU)
