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Bacteriuria in pregnancy and growth and development of the infants
Insights
Screening pregnant women for bacteriuria (bacteria in urine) and treating it showed no negative impact on infant growth or development. This supports routine screening and treatment programs.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bacteriuria during pregnancy is a common condition.
- Untreated bacteriuria can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Community-based screening programs aim to improve maternal and child health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of screening for and treating bacteriuria in pregnancy on offspring's physical growth and development.
- To assess the long-term outcomes of infants born to mothers with bacteriuria.
Main Methods:
- A community-oriented screening program for bacteriuria in pregnancy was implemented in Jerusalem.
- 30 cases of bacteriuria were identified and treated with antibiotics based on organism sensitivity.
- Pregnancy outcomes were compared between bacteriuric mothers and individually matched non-bacteriuric controls.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in mean birth weight between cases and controls.
- Infant weight, length, and developmental quotient at various ages were comparable between groups.
- No low birth weight infants were identified among the bacteriuria cases.
Conclusions:
- Routine screening and antibiotic treatment for bacteriuria in pregnancy is feasible, valid, acceptable, and cost-effective.
- The program demonstrated no adverse effects on offspring's physical growth and development.
- The findings support the integration of bacteriuria screening into routine preventive health services.
Abstract:
In the framework of a community-oriented programme in a western neighbourhood in Jerusalem, screening for bacteriuria during pregnancy was introduced. Between the years 1972 and 1979, 30 cases were identified, an incidence of 1.7%. All women diagnosed as having bacteriuria received antibiotic treatment according to sensitivity of the organism. This report presents the pregnancy outcome as measured by physical growth and development of the offspring. Cases of bacteriuria were compared with individually matched nonbacteriuric controls. No statistically significant differences were found in mean birth weight, mean weight and length at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and development quotient at 2 years. No low birth weight infants were found among the cases. The fact that no differences were found between cases and controls, the feasibility, validity, acceptability and low cost of the screening test, and the health benefits of the programme justify introduction of routine screening and treatment of bacteriuria in the preventive health services.