asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria in pregnancy

pregnant women are at increased risk for urinary tract infection (uti) but in many cases infection is asymptomatic. this study was performed to determine the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria in pregnant women. a total of 86 pregnant women during first trimester and 56 nonpregnant women were evaluated. all subjects were clinically identified to have no signs and symptoms of uti. clean catch midstream urine samples were collected for both groups. urine samples were examined microscopically and were cultured. bacteriological examination revealed asymptomatic bacteriuria in 25 (29.1%) and 3 (5.4%) of the study group and controls, respectively ( p p escherichia coli were found in 20%, staphylococcus epidermidis in 36%, staphylococcus haemolyticus in 12%, streptococcus group d in 12%, staphylococcus saprophyticus in 12% and proteus mirabilis in 8%. in control group, e. coli were found in 33.3% and s. epidermidis in 66.7%. our results show that the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is significantly higher in pregnant women than nonpregnant women. the main finding in the present study was that 29.1% of the pregnant women who were in first trimester had asymptomatic bacteriuria which is much higher than figures reported from other countries. the use of microscopic urinanalysis was not an effective method of detecting asymptomatic bacteriuria and urine culture is necessary for screening these pregnant women.