Bacteriuria in Pregnant and Non Pregnant Women
in Benghazi – Comparative Study

Khaled Ali Mohamed Al-Mehdawi

Ministry of Health || Benghazi || Libya

Abstract: Background: Bacteriuria is associated with significant maternal and foetal risks. However, its prevalence is not well known in our community.

Objectives: Determine the prevalence and predictors of bacteriuria in women of the Benghazi, Libya as well as the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates.

Methods: Across-sectional study was carried out amongest pregnant and non-pregnant women attending many polyclinics in Benghazi. We recruited 120 consenting women (60 pregnant and 60 non pregnant) for the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaire. Clean catch midstream urine was collected from each participant. Samples were examined biochemically, microscopically and by culture. Significant bacteriuria was defined as the presence of 10⁵ bacteria per ml of cultured urine. Identification and susceptibility of isolates was performed using API (BioMerieux, France Company) .

Results: Significant bacteriuria was found in the urine of 13.3 % (16) of all women with prevalence of 16.7% in pregnant women. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 8.3 % (10). The most frequent isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (31.2%), E. coli (25%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (18.9%), and were sensitive to gentamycin (GN) 87.5%, azithromycin (AZM)75%, and the less effective antibiotics were cephalexine (CL) and ampicillin (AMP).

Conclusion: Bacteriuria is frequent in women particularly pregnant women suggesting the need for routine screening by urine culture, which would allow early treatment to avoid the complications. In addition, UTI infections appears to be multifactorial.

Key words: Antibiotics, Bacteriuria, Libya, pregnant, urinary tract infections, Women.

Introduction

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) is an infection caused by the presence and growth of microorganisms anywhere in the urinary tract (1). UTI is evident when there are 105 or more of microorganisms or of a single strain of bacterium per milliliter in midstream urine samples (2). UTI affects all age groups, but women are more susceptible than men, due to short urethra, absence of prostatic secretion, pregnancy and easy contamination of the urinary tract with faecal flora (3). Additionally, the physiological increase in plasma volume during pregnancy decreases urine concentration and up to 70% pregnant women develop glucosurea, which encourages bacterial growth in the urine (4)(5).

Women identified with asymptomatic bacteriuria in early pregnancy have a 20–30-fold increased risk of developing pyelonephritis during pregnancy, compared with women without

Bacteriuria (6). These women also are more likely to experience premature delivery and to have infants of low birth weight. Prospective, comparative clinical trials have consistently reported that antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy decreases the risk of subsequent pyelonephritis from 20%–35% to 1%–4%. (7)

Also there are associations between maternal complications of pregnancy and pyelonephritis including hypertension, preeclampsia, anaemia, amnionitis, and endometritis (8). The most common pathogen involved in bacteriuria is Escherichia coli accounting for 60 to 90% of infections in women. Other bacteria involved include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9). Gram-positive organisms like Staphylococcus saprophyticus also cause bacteriuria (10) . There are several ways to diagnose UTI, but urine culture still remains the most reliable tool for its diagnosis (2).

In Benghazi, Libya, no data are yet available on the prevalence of bacteriuria (symptomatic, asymptomatic) during pregnancy. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of bacteriuria among women and to determine its relation with some possible risk factors such as age, duration of pregnancy and parity, the most common types of bacteria and the most suitable antibiotics to use.

Materials and methods

Participants

This study was carried out on 120 women (60 pregnant and 60 non pregnant) attending many polyclinics in Benghazi from February to June 2007. Their ages ranged between 18 to 48 years with mean age (32.15) .

collection of specimens:

Urine specimens were collected from participants in sterile containers by the mid-stream urine samples. Each sample was divided into two parts. One part was used for general urine examinations, and other part was used for culture (10). Cases which had taken antibiotic during the previous two weeks were excluded. Personal information was obtained using a well-structured questionnaire.

Sampling and bacteriological analysis

Participants were advised to collect a clean catch of 10-20 ml of midstream urine using sterile disposable leak proof containers respecting aseptic collection techniques. Aliquots of urine samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10-15 minutes. Sediment from each sample was used to streak culture media and prepare a wet mount for microscopy (9). The remainder of the urine was tested biochemically using dipsticks impregnated with leucocyte esterase and nitrite tests.The urine dipstick kit used was Medi-Test  Combi 9 (Macherey-Nagel, Germany).

Culture process

Urine samples were cultured using a standard loop calibrated to hold 0.01 ml of urine on to Blood agar, MacConkey agar and Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) agar. Inoculated plates were incubated at 37C aerobically overnight.

Colony counts

Colonies were counted on CLED and multiplied by the loop volume. A bacterial count of 1×105 per ml was considered significant for UTI and counts of 102-104 per ml were considered as suspected/doubtful bacteriuria while counts less than 102 per ml were considered no significant bacterial growth (9).

Bacterial identification

Growths on the culture media were identified using their growth characteristics, Gram stain and biochemical and sugar fermentation tests. The biochemical tests used were: Indole test for lactose fermenting bacteria particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella and Coagulase test to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from Staphylococcus. Genera and species of bacteria were identified using the Analytic Profile Index (API) according to the manufactured instructions of BioMerieux, France Company.

Sensitivity tests

The media used were Muller–Hinton agar (Oxoid). Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test. The isolates from this study were tested against many antibiotics (Figure 2).

Statistical analysis

The results data were entered in to SPSS program and descriptive statistic was used to summaries the data, like tables, figures, and measures of central tendency. Analytic statistics were used to compare between the variables. Chi-square (x²) was used, significance was assumed at when p≤ 0.05.

Results

In this study the prevalence of bacteriuria in women was found to be 13.3%, in pregnant women 16.7 % and in non-pregnant women  10 % . Asymptomatic bacteriuria in all women was 10/120 cases 8.3% .This indicates that about 16.7% of pregnant women are at risk of development of acute episode of UTI during pregnancy if they are not properly treated.

Table 1. Distribution of cases by age and Bacteriuria.

Total		Cases without Bacteriuria		Cases with Bacteriuria		Bacteriuria
%	NO	%	NO	%	NO
X2  = 13.744      df = 4   p=0.0001   S						Age / year
15.8	19	15.3	16	18.75	3	18-24
27.5	33	22.1	23	62.5	10	25-30
30.8	37	34.7	36	6.25	1	31-36
17.6	21	18.3	19	12.5	2	37-42
8.3	10	9.6	10	0	0	43-48
100	120	86.7	104	13.3	16	Total

-Mean age = 32.15             -Median =32              -Mode 30

-Range = 30                       -Minimum =18           -Maximum =48

Table 2. Distribution of cases by their education level, marital status and Bacteriuria.

Total		Cases without Bacteriuria		Cases with Bacteriuria		Bacteriuria
%	NO	%	NO	%	NO
X2 = 5.999  df = 3   p=0.147    N.S.						Level of Education
10.8	13	69.2	9	30.8	4	Illiterate
22.5	27	81.5	22	18.5	5	Primary
37.5	45	88.9	40	11.1	5	Secondary
29.2	35	94.3	33	5.7	2	University
X2  =0.304    df = 1   p =0.562  N.S.						Marital status
100	95	85.3	81	14.7	14	Married
100	25	92	23	8	2	Un married
100%	120	86.7%	104	13.3%	16	Total

 

Table 3. Distribution of cases by their pregnancy and Bacteriuria

Total		Cases witout Bacteriuria		Asymptomatic Bacteriuria		Symptomatic Bacteriuria		Bacteriuria
%	NO	%	NO	%	NO	%	NO
X2  =1.754     df = 2   p = 0.416  N.S.								Pregnancy
100	60	83.3	50	11.7	7	5	3	Pregnant
100	60	90	54	5	3	5	3	Non Pregnant
100	120	86.7	104	8.3	10	5	6	Total

Table 4. Distribution of cases by their duration of pregnancy and Bacteriuria.

Total		Cases without Bacteriuria		Cases with Bacteriuria			Bacteriuria
%	NO	%	NO		%	NO
X2= 1.719  df= 2  p =0.423     N.S.							Pregnancy Trimester
26.7	16	93.7	15		6.3	1	First Trimester
50	30	80	24		20	6	Second Trimester
23.3	14	78.6	11		21.4	3	Third Trimester
100	60	83.3	50		16.7	10	Total

25 %

6.2 %

12.5 %

6.2 %

31.2 %

18.9 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. The percentage isolation of bacteria responsible of bacteriuria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Effects of the Antibiotics on the bacteria.

Discussion

 In this study the prevalence of bacteriuria in women was found to be 13.3%, in pregnant women 16.7 % and in non-pregnant women 10 %. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in all women was 10/120 cases 8.3%, in pregnant women was 11.7% and in non-pregnant women was 5%. This indicates that about 16.7% of pregnant women are at risk of development of acute episode of UTI during pregnancy if they are not properly treated. These findings are similar to that of Uncu who reported the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women 9.3% (11). In a study performed in turkey, the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was reported to be 8.1% (12). The results of the present study found significantly high relation between age and bacteriuria (p=0.00) (Table 1) and revealed that the bacteriuria in women was commonest in the age group 25-30 years 62.5%, and these result agreed with study by Buzayan in Libya (13), but contrast with study in Yemen that observed the bacteriuria was more in the age group 15-24 years 53.7%(14). The difference may be due to social factors such as early age of marriage and sexual activity.

There is no significant relationship between level of education and bacteriuria(p= 0.147) (Table 2), the prevalence of bacteriuria was 30.8% in illiterate, 18.5% in primary, 11.1% in secondary and 5.7% in university level of education . However, as the level of education increases there is decrease in bacteriuria among women and these findings are similar with Samad (2007) (15). The prevalence of bacteriuria was 14.7 % in married women, and 8% in un married women, differences are founded apparently but no statistical difference (p=0.562) (Table 2), while Krcmery et al., showed that the risk factors for bacteriuria in women include sexual intercourse and having a marital history (16). The bacteriuria in the pregnant women was observed more in the third trimester 21.4% than in the first trimester 6.3%, and second trimester 20 %. But no significant (p= 0.423) (Table 4), Similar with Haddad who found that the bacteriuria was more in the third trimester 48.8% (14). In contrast Buzayan  (1998)  (13).

In this study the most frequent isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (31.2%), E. coli (25%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (18.9%), Enterococcus species (12.5%), Streptococcus pyogenes (6.2%) and Serratia marcescens (6.2%) (Figure 1), whereas another Libyan study found that the bacteriuria in pregnant women caused by E.coli 65.5%  and  Klebsiella pneumonia 20.7% (13), and Haddad found E. coli was most frequently isolated 41.5%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus 19.5% (14)  . The result of this study agreed with that of Oyagade et al., (2004) who found that the microbiological culture of urine samples from 502 pregnant women resulted in the isolation of bacteria, which were Staphylococcus aureus 21.3%, E.coli  16.0%, Staphylococcus spp 14.7% (17).

The most effective antibiotics tested on the isolated bacteria were gentamycin (GN) 87.5%, azithromycin (AZM) 75% and ciprofloxacin (CIP) 68.75%, and the less effective antibiotics were cephalexine (CL) 6.25%, and ampicillin (AMP) 12.5%. The results of this study agreed with other studies which stated that urine culture is the gold standard method of diagnosis for bacteriuria. It is shown that urine dipstick testing for nitrite, urinalysis, and enzymatic urine screening tests can poorly detect all the culture positive bacteriuria cases in women (15) (18) .

Conclusion

The results of this work supported indirectly the hypothesis there is an association of bacteriuria with age and gravidity. In addition, UTI infections appears to be multifactorial. A screening for bacteriuria in women especially pregnant women must be done to discover the infected cases, which would allow early treatment to avoid the complications.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Khaled M. Hassanein and Ramadan H. Ali for their helpful comments

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