Asymptomatic Significant Bacteriuria Among Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women in Sagamu, Nigeria

In a study carried out among 510 pregnant and 304 non-pregnant women at Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, 122 (23.9%) of the pregnant women and 37 (12.2%) of the non-pregnant women had significant bacteriuria. The rate amongst the pregnant women was significantly higher than in non-pregnant women (P < 0.001). There was a correlation between pyuria and significant bacteriuria in 45 (8.8%) of the pregnant women and in 11 (3.6%) of the non-pregnant women. Significant bacteriuria was closely associated with nulliparae. Most of the pregnant women with significant bacteriuria belonged to the low socioeconomic group. Unlike in previous studies in this country, the most prevalent organism in this study was the Staphylococcus aureus. In view of the high incidence of the problem in this environment, it is important that routine screening of urine for significant bacteriuria should be part of our ante-natal clinic services at least on the first visit of pregnant women to ante-natal clinics.