Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs in 4 to 7 percent of pregnancies and is associated with the development of acute pyelonephritis, preterm labor and low-birth-weight infants. Treatment of bacteriuria prevents up to 80 percent of cases of pyelonephritis and reduces the risk of preterm delivery. All women should be screened for bacteriuria by a urine culture at the first prenatal visit. Women with bacteriuria should be treated with appropriate antibiotics and should be monitored throughout pregnancy to identify recurrences. Women with persistent bacteriuria require antibiotic suppression until delivery and urologic evaluation following delivery. Urologic evaluation during pregnancy is indicated if bacteriuria persists despite antibiotic therapy.