Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection and Uropathogen Profile Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Misurata, Libya

Abstract

Urinary tract infection is common in pregnant women and associated with maternal, fetal, and obstetric complications. Escherichia coli is the most common etiologic agent in both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, and culture is the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment of both symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria has been shown to reduce the rate of pyelonephritis in pregnancy and therefore screening for and treatment of urinary tract infection has become a standard of obstetrical care. Antibiotic treatment of bacteriuria significantly reduces the risk of maternal and fetal complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections among pregnant women and identify the predominant uropathogens in Misurata, Libya.