The Prevalence of Asymtomatic Bacteriuria in Women with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

In 1960, Kass first demonstrated a strong relationship between untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria and the development of pyelonephritis during pregnancy results in an increased risk of fetal morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, with adequate antibiotic treatment, it is possible to decrease both the incidence of this infection process in pregnant women and accompanying fetal risks. Symptomatic urinary tract infection may also have other adverse effects on pregnancy, including preterm labor, fetal growth retardation, fetal loss, and maternal anemia. While the relationship between symptomatic urinary infectious disease and the above pregnancy outcomes is fairly well-established, a relationship between these effects and asymptomatic bacteriuria has not yet been clearly proven and is still being debated in the medical literature. The drawbacks of the studies performed thus far regarding asymptomatic bacteriuria and PIH have made them difficult to interpret and apply in clinical practice. Debate in this area continues due to contradictory research findings by several different investigators. Since a satisfactory cause-and-effect relationship has not been established by the reports, a need exists for a better-defined, well-controlled study to examine whether and association exists between these two disorders. The objectives of this study, therefore, was to determine if a difference exists in the prevalence of PIH between women with asymptomatic bacteriuria and women without asymptomatic bacteriuria by improving study design where possible and using appropriate statistical analysis of data.