Literature review
Urinary tract infection may present as asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute cystitis (bladder
infection) or pyelonephritis (kidney infection) 1
Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs in 2 % to 10 % of all pregnancies. If untreated, up to 30 %
of mothers may develop acute cystitis and up to 50 % acute pyelonephritis 1,2,3
E Coli is the most common pathogen associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria (> 80 % of
isolates). Staphylococcus saprophyticus is the second most frequently cultured
uropathogen while other Gram-positive cocci, such as group B streptococci, are less
common. Other organisms include Gram-negative bacteria such as klebsiella, proteus or
enterobacteriaceae1,2
Asymptomatic bacteriuria has been associated with low birthweight and preterm birth3
Obstruction to the flow of urine in pregnancy leads to stasis and increases the likelihood
that pyelonephritis will complicate asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) 3
Antibiotic treatment is effective in reducing the risk of pyelonephritis in pregnancy 3
There is no clear consensus in the literature on antibiotic choice or duration of treatment for
urinary tract infection