title: Bacteriuria amongst pregnant women in the Buea Health District, Cameroon: prevalence, predictors, antibiotic susceptibility patterns and diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacteriuria is associated with significant maternal and foetal risks. However, its prevalence is not known in our community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and predictors of bacteriuria in pregnant women of the Buea Health District (BHD) as well as the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates. It also sought to determine the diagnostic performance of the nitrite and leucocyte esterase tests in detecting bacteriuria in these women.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational analytic cross-sectional study was carried out amongst pregnant women attending selected antenatal care centres in Buea. We recruited 102 consenting pregnant women for the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires. Clean catch midstream urine was collected from each participant in sterile leak proof containers. Samples were examined biochemically, microscopically and by culture. Significant bacteriuria was defined as the presence of ≥10⁸ bacteria/L of cultured urine. Identification and susceptibility of isolates was performed using API 20E and ATB UR EU (08) (BioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant bacteriuria was found in the urine of 24 of the 102 women tested giving a bacteriuria prevalence of 23.5% in pregnant women of the BHD. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 8(7.8%) of the women. There was no statistically significant predictor of bacteriuria. Escherichia coli were the most isolated (33%) uropathogens and were 100% sensitive to cefixime, cefoxitin and cephalothin. The nitrite and leucocyte esterase tests for determining bacteriuria had sensitivities of 8%, 20.8% and specificities of 98.7% and 80.8% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacteriuria is frequent in pregnant women in the BHD suggesting the need for routine screening by urine culture. Empiric treatment with cefixime should be instituted until results of urine culture and sensitivity are available. Nitrite and leucocyte esterase tests were not sensitive enough to replace urine culture as screening tests.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, South-West Region, Cameroon.
authors: Morike Ngoe
authors: MN
authors: Mokube
authors: Julius
authors: J
authors: Atashili
authors: Gregory Edie
authors: GE
authors: Halle-Ekane
authors: George M
authors: GM
authors: Ikomey
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: Ndumbe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000652:urine; D020682:Cefixime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D002440:Cefoxitin; D020682:Cefixime; C021443:leukocyte esterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D002512:Cephalothin
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