The prevalence, bacteriology and drug sensitivity of asymptomatic bacteriuria in antenatal women at Harare and Mbuya Nehanda maternity hospitals, in Zimbabwe

Objectives : To determine the prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (AsB) and the drug sensitivities of the common causative organisms in antenatal women at Harare and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospitals. Design : This was a descriptive cross sectional study. Setting : Harare and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital antenatal clinics. Subjects : One hundred and forty one (n=141) consenting women coming for routine antenatal care were recruited between the 15th of November and the 15th of December 2015. Intervention : The women were given health education sessions on AsB and urinary tract infection during pregnancy. A structured questionnaire was utilized to elicit demographic data, antenatal history, sexual hygiene and other risk factors for AsB. Mid stream urine was collected from each participant and dispatched to the laboratory for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Patients whose culture results were positive were contacted by the researcher for appropriate treatment according to their drug sensitivities. Main Outcome Measures : The prevalence of AsB, the causative bacteria and their drug sensitivities. Results : Among the 141 antenatal women who participated in the study, 23% had positive urine cultures. The predominant bacteria was E. coli accounting for 18 (13%) participants followed by Streptococci in 7 (5%) and Staphylococcus in 5 (4%). Amoxycillin/Clavulinic acid, Nitrofurantoin and Ciprofloxacin were the effective antibiotics against the bacteria. Conclusion : The prevalence of AsB in this population of antenatal women was 23% and the common causative organisms were E. coli, Streptococci, Staphylococci and Klebsiella . The organisms were mostly sensitive to Amoxycillin/Clavulinic acid, Nitrofurantoin and Ciprofloxacin.