ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN PREGNANCY - MATERNAL AND FETAL COMPLICATIONS

From an analysis of the data reported in the literature it is clear th at pregnancy is a predisposing factor for urinary tract infection and that pregnant women with this pathology are exposed to dangerous risks which may influence maternal wellbeing and fetal prognosis. Authors d o not concur on the specific risks to the mother and fetus, one reason being that the statistics reported to date reveal discrepancies relat ing to the presence of disorders prior to pregnancy and the environmen tal, working and socio-hygienic conditions of the Populations studied, The apparently paradoxical finding of a higher incidence of perinatal problems in pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria compared to manifest forms can be attributed to the fact that the latter are treat ed with adequate therapies whereas asymptomatic bacteriuria, which is difficult to diagnose, may persist throughout pregnancy. This underlin es the importance of early diagnosis using a protocol which entails th e execution of serial urine tests and urine cultures and adequate trea tment of all cases of asymptomatic bacteriuria in order to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections and materno-fetal complications. Non-treated asymptomatic bacteriuria in fact represents a considerabl e risk factor since it may lead to the onset of acute pyelonephritis i n approximately 5% of pregnant women and may increase the risk of feta l mortality.