Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary hospital, South-South Nigeria

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common problem in pregnancy and is associated with the risk of preterm birth and pyelonephritis if untreated. This study aims to determine the prevalence and aetiology of asymptomatic bacteriuria and the susceptibility pattern in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in a tertiary hospital in South-South Nigeria. Urine samples from 30 pregnant women were analysed using conventional microbiology techniques, and the mean age of the respondents was 29.57±5.89 years. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in this study is 66.6%, with a higher prevalence in the third trimester (73.3%). The subjects aged 31-35 had the highest prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae as the common isolate, followed by Escherichia coli at 45% to 40%, respectively. Reflacine was more susceptible to Escherichia coli (87.5%), while ciprofloxacin was more susceptible to Klebsiella pneumoniae (88.8%) in this study. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is not uncommon among antenatal patients in the population studied. Routine urine culture tests should be conducted on all antenatal patients to identify any unsuspecting infection. This measure will go a long way in reducing maternal and obstetric complications associated with pregnancy, such as preterm labour and low birth weight babies.