Background and study aim: A study of urinary tract infections (UTI) amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital was taken up as an initiative to investigate vulnerable population which were known to be more prone to infections.
Patients and Methods: Consenting pregnant population of all gestational age, between the ages of 20 to 40 years, attending antenatal clinic of the hospital, were selected, and recruited in this observational study. Urinalysis report, details of isolated uropathogen including antibiotic susceptibility pattern and patient details were collected and analyzed.
Results: Our study revealed a significant association between UTI and demographic status, with common affection in young, illiterate, and rural population with higher incidence in multigravida (72.31%) and multiparity (50.82%) and more commonly in third trimester (47.54%) It also revealed: high prevalence of UTI (30.35%); asymptomatic UTI (21.39%) more than symptomatic UTI (8.96%);Escherichia coli as the commonest isolated uropathogen. Most uropathogens showed high resistance to Co-trimoxazole and Penicillin; whereas demonstrated overall sensitivity to Carbapenems and Fosfomycin, raising the issue of feasible, cheap, and safe treatment strategies in this vulnerable population vis a vis applicability and usefulness of empirical antimicrobial therapy.
Conclusion: The difference in prevalence rates of UTI in pregnancy is attributed to variations in socio-economic status, education, demography, social practices, and environment. The high observed prevalence rate calls for routine screening in all three trimesters of pregnancy and most importantly in the first visit and rational antimicrobial therapy for UTI in pregnancy as part of standard obstetric care.