Routine screening for asymptomatic
bacteriuria (ABU) by midstream urine culture early in
pregnancy is recommended as routine care for the
healthy pregnant women by national collaborating
centre for women’s and children’s health in the UK(1).
Risk of preterm delivery or low birthweight babies
and development of pyelonephritis decreased in the
treatment group of ABU compared with placebo or no
treatment(2).
However, the antenatal urine culture routine
for all pregnant women is costly and not feasible in
many parts of the world including Thailand. Reduction
of the necessity of urine culture for pregnant women
by using the cheaper denominator such as the reported
risk factors related to ABU may be an appropriate
alternative management i.e. anemia, multiparity