Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in diabetic females in Barbados - abstract

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to compare the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in diabetic and non-diabetic adult females. Sixty stable, asymptomatic female diabetics (mean age 50 years) attending diabetics out-patients clinic and 66 non-diabetic hypertensives (mean age 51 years) attending diabetic, hypertensive out-patient clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were studied. Mid-stream urines were examined microscopically, tested by dipstick for glucose, protein and nitrite and cultured on the same day, using standardized techniques. Significant bacteriuria (>10 to fifth power cfu/ml) was detected in 7 diabetic patients (11.7 percent) and in 3 control patients (4.5 percent), (xý = 2.18. 0.5 1.0). Pyuria (<5 cells/hpf) was found in 14 diabetics (23 percent) and only 6 (9 percent) patients in the control group (Xý = 4.77, 0.05>p>0.01). Four diabetics had both significant bacteriuria and pyuria, and none of the controls. Three of the diabetics were hospitalized during the past twelve months for UTIs, including one with pyelonephritis, and none of the controls. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in diabetics may help prevent morbidity, especially of the upper urinary tract (AU)