[Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women].
BACKGROUND
We wanted to determine the usefulness of chemical dipstick tests and office culture in diagnosing asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women in general practice.


METHODS
Dipstick and office urine culture were compared with standard culture results from a microbiology laboratory. The comparison was based on 294 urine samples obtained from pregnant women in a standard general practice setting.


RESULTS
Asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 16 out of 294 urine samples. The sensitivity of dipstick tests was less than 30%. The positive predictive value was 100% for the nitrite test and 40% for office culture.


CONCLUSIONS
Standard urine culture is the only way to diagnose asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Kolstrup
Nils
N
Institutt for samfunnsmedisin, Universitetet i Tromsø. nils.kolstrup@ism.uit.no
Vold
Christian
C
Melbye
Hasse
H
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*