Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection in pregnancy

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Andrew Berrington, Dr Adrian Bint

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Urinary tract infection occurs in about 5% of pregnancies. Although usually asymptomatic, in a third of cases if untreated it progresses and causes acute pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infection is also associated with low birth weight, prematurity and other obstetric complications. Screening and treatment can reduce the incidence of these complications and are cost-effective in most populations, although there has been much debate concerning the optimal methodology for testing. Despite the investigation of rapid diagnostic methods including reagent strips, 'wet-film' microscopy, Gram staining urinary pH and the detection of bacterial catalase and ATP, in our opinion the best approach is still urine culture, which should be repeated if positive for confirmation. The antibiotics of choice for treatment are amoxycillin, cephalexin and nitrofurantoin depending on the sensitivity of the infecting organism. Single-dose therapy is effective in most women although it has not been conclusively shown to be as effective as longer courses. Patients should be followed up after treatment to ensure eradication of the infection, and preferably throughout pregnancy, to allow retreatment in the event of relapse or reinfection. The role of secondary prophylaxis has not been fully investigated. On current evidence there is no need to extend the follow-up of successfully treated women into the puerperium, although those with refractory bacteriuria or pyelonephritis should be investigated to exclude structural abnormalities of the renal tract. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Berrington AW, Bint AJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Reviews in Medical Microbiology

Year: 1999

Volume: 10

Issue: 1

Pages: 27-36

Print publication date: 01/01/1999

ISSN (print): 0954-139X

ISSN (electronic): 1473-5601

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00013542-199901000-00004

DOI: 10.1097/00013542-199901000-00004


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share