[Asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with diabetes mellitus. To treat or not to treat?].

Women with diabetes mellitus suffer symptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic urinary infections more often than non-diabetic women. Prevalence is similar, however, in males with and without diabetes. There is a controversy on the impact of asymptomatic bacteriuria on the development of complications in diabetic patients. Current evidence is reviewed concerning the need for detection and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in these patients.