UrinarY tract inFection in HigH riSK Pregnant WoMen

Background: In this study, we aimed to verify the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnant women, the main etiologic agents and their antibiotic susceptibilities. Moreover, to confirm UTI as a risk factor for maternal and fetal complications. Methodology: Data collection was performed using medical records from pregnant women suffering from UTIs (the Study Group) and pregnant women without UTIs (the Control Group). Both groups of patients visited the Department of High Risk Pregnancy, University Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul during the period of April 2005 to April 2010. Results: Of the 864 pregnant women studied, 15.6% (135/864) had a UTI. Escherichia coli was the most frequent cause of urinary tract infections, with a frequency of 34.8% (47/135). The E. coli strains were most sensitive to norfloxacin (91.4%), nitrofurantoin (80.8%) and ceftriaxone (74.4%) and most resistant to ampicillin (42.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (31.1%) and first-generation cephalosporins (14.8%). There was a significant association between preterm delivery, low birth weight and UTI in pregnant women. There was no significant association with premature rupture of membranes, admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Neo ICU) and Apgar of less than 7 at 5 min. Conclusion: The use of urine culture as routine prenatal laboratorial screening allows for the early diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in pregnant women, thereby providing better perinatal conditions.