Treatment of bacteriuria in pregnancy.

Treatment of bacteriuria in pregnancy.

Tan J S; File T M Jr

Drugs

1992

1992-12

The presence of bacteriuria during gestation increases the chance of acute pyelonephritis. Treatment of bacteriuria in pregnancy reduces subsequent development of symptomatic disease. Numerous studies have shown that single-dose therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria is as effective as longer course of treatment. Single-dose therapy also has the advantages of improved compliance, reduced costs, and less adverse effects resulting from long term therapy. Follow-up cultures following antimicrobial treatment should be used for early detection of recurrence or relapse. If the urine culture yields no growth, a urine culture at a monthly interval will suffice. If on the other hand bacteriuria is present, a repeat course of antimicrobial therapy should be chosen based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A longer course of therapy, possibly with a different drug, is recommended for women with a positive follow-up urine culture. Acute cystitis may be treated with the same regimen as asymptomatic bacteriuria. When upper urinary tract infection is suspected, hospitalisation and a longer course of therapy is recommended. If the organism is susceptible to cefalexin or nitrofurantoin, postcoital prophylaxis with either agent for the remainder of the pregnancy may be beneficial.

Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Anti-Infective Agents/adverse effects; Bacteriuria/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology; Infectious/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

972–980

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