Topical aspects of laboratory diagnosis of urinary tract infections in pregnancy (literature review)

Abstract

Numerous scientific studies, as well as practical experience in public health, have determined that proper and timely diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy often determines obstetric and perinatal outcomes, and affects maternal and perinatal mortality rates. Urinary tract infections are common, with a prevalence in pregnancy ranging from 8 to 10%. During pregnancy and delivery, patients with UTIs can develop a number of complications such as anaemia, spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetoplacental insufficiency, premature delivery and postpartum septic complications. UTIs also have adverse effects on the fetus, causing fetal hypoxia, delayed intrauterine development and intrauterine infection. Prenatal screening for UTIs is included in the standard of care for pregnant women throughout the world and in some countries, women are screened more than once. Such early diagnosis for asymptomatic bacteriuria is thought to reduce obstetric, perinatal and urological complications by up to a factor of five. However, in some European countries, the socioeconomic feasibility of routine screening of pregnant women for asymptomatic bacteriuria has recently been raised.