Reagent Strip Testing for Antenatal Screening and First Meaningful of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnant Women
Ekachai Kovavisarach MD*, Maytina Vichaipruck MD*, Suwattana Kanjanahareutai MSc**
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok ** Department of Pathology, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok
Objective : To evaluate the diagnostic performance of reagent strip test as a screening test for asymptomatic
bacteriuria (ABU) in pregnant women.
Material and Method: Three hundred and sixty asymptomatic pregnant women who attended their first
antenatal appointment at Rajavithi Hospital from August 1st to October 31st, 2005 were enrolled. Those with
symptoms of urinary tract infection within one month, those who had been prescribed antibiotics during the
previous 7 days, and those with medical or obstetric complications, vaginal bleeding and a history of urinary
tract diseases were excluded. Urine specimens were collected by clean-catched midstream urine technique for
urine dipstick and culture
Results : The prevalence of ABU was 10.0% The urine dipstick nitrite leukocyte esterase and combined test
had a sensitivity of 16.7%, 75.0% and 16.7%, specificity of 99.1%, 67.9% and 99.4%, positive predictive value
of 66.7%, 20.6% and 75.0%, negative predictive value of 91.5, 96.1% and 91.5%, accuracy of 90.8%, 68.6%
and 91.1%, respectively.
Conclusion : Reagent strip testing indicated a fair sensitivity for routine antenatal screening for asymptomatic
bacteriuria in pregnant women.
Keywords : Asymptomatic bacteriuria, Reagent strip, Pregnancy
