UROGENITAL INFECTION IN PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the inci dence of urinary tract infections and postpartum endometritis were inc reased in preeclamptic pregnancies. Method: We conducted a retrospecti ve study of 13 852 pregnant women, using a perinatal database at The J ohns Hopkins Hospital, over the past 5 years. The incidence of urinary tract infections and postpartum endometritis was analyzed using the c hi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. Statistical signific ance was set at P < 0.05. Results. There were 345 (2.5%) mild preeclam ptics and 440 (3.2%) severe preeclamptics. The incidence of urinary tr act infections and postpartum endometritis in preeclamptic patients wa s significantly higher than that in non-hypertensive pregnant patients . After controlling for confounding variables, severe preeclampsia was still found to be an independent significant risk factor for both uri nary tract infections and postpartum endometritis. Conclusion: Our dat a show a significant increase in urogenital infection in preeclamptic pregnancy, This may reflect higher rates of underlying renal disease a nd placental bed abnormalities occurring in preeclampsia.