Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnancy

Complications of UTI in pregnancy

  • Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing lower urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis
  • Urinary tract infections in pregnant women increase the risk of preterm delivery
  • They may also increase the risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight and pre-eclampsia

Asymptomatic bacteriuria

  • Refers to bacteria present in the urine, without symptoms of infection
  • Pregnant women are tested for asymptomatic bacteriuria
     at booking and routinely throughout pregnancy
  • Testing for bacteria in the urine of asymptomatic patients is not recommended as it may lead to unnecessary antibiotics; Pregnant women are an exception to this rule, due to the adverse outcomes associated with infection

Management

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Antibiotics for UTI or asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy

  • First line:
    • 1st or 2nd trimester nitrofurantoin MR 100mg bd or 50mg qds
    • 3rd trimester trimethoprim 200mg bd
  • 2nd line (any trimester) cefalexin 500mg tds or as per sensitivities
  • Treat for 7 days and sample for test of cure