Risk Factors Related to Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnant Women
Ekachai Kovavisarach MD*, Maytina Vichaipruck MD*, Suwattana Kanjarahareutai MSc**
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Pathology, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the risk factors related to 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 1 and October 31 2005 were enrolled. Those with
symptoms of urinary tract infection within one month, those who had been prescribed antibiotics during the
previous seven days, and those with medical or obstetric complications, vaginal bleeding, and history of
urinary tract disease were excluded. Urine specimens were collected by clean-catched midstream urine technique
for culture. Several risk factors related to ABU and obstetric and demographic characteristics were recorded.
Results : The prevalence of ABU in pregnant women was 10.0%. The significant risk factors related to ABU in
pregnancy was lower education level < grade 6 (p < 0.05) with 2.17-time risk of ABU compared with higher
education level > grade 6. Maternal and gestational age, occupation, monthly income, gravidity, previous
history of urinary tract infection and anemia were not statistically associated with ABU.
Conclusion : Lower education level (< grade 6) should be the only significant risk factor related to ABU in
Thai pregnant women under limited sample size.
Keywords : Bacteriuria, Pregnancy, Risk factors
