Bacteriuria in pregnant women with sickle cell trait.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the following outcome variables in pregnant patients with sickle cell trait and matched pregnant control patients: asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute cystitis, urinary pathogens that were present, and pyelonephritis.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study that was conducted at a university clinic. Pregnant patients with sickle cell trait (n = 455) were matched with control patients (n = 448) for race, age, gestational age at entry into prenatal care, and number of prenatal visits.


RESULTS
Women with sickle cell trait received urine testing significantly more often. There was no difference in the incidence of positive urine cultures, urinary pathogens, or asymptomatic bacteriuria among the comparison groups. Sickle cell trait carriers had significantly higher rates of pyelonephritis, but many affected patients had risk factors, such as previous pyelonephritis or noncompliance with therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Sickle cell trait carriers were no more susceptible to acute cystitis and asymptomatic bacteriuria than were the control patients. On the basis of these data, we outline recommendations for urinary screening and pyelonephritis prevention in pregnant patients with sickle cell trait.
Thurman
Andrea Ries
AR
Department of Obstetrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. thurmana@musc.edu
Steed
Lisa L
LL
Hulsey
Thomas
T
Soper
David E
DE
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003556:Cystitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000652:urine*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000652:urine*