Via practica 6/2022

Management of urinary tract infections in pregnancy

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in pregnancy with 5 – 10 % of women experiencing a symptomatic UTI during pregnancy. UTI may present as asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute cystitis (bladder infection) or pyelonephritis (kidney infection). Rates of bacteriuria are similar between pregnant and non-pregnant women, however, pregnant women are more likely to get recurrent and more severe UTI due to physiological changes in pregnancy that predispose women to urinary retention and stasis in urinary tract. The article currently evaluates the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of UTI, including urosepsis in pregnancy.

Keywords: urinary tract infections, pregnancy, diagnosis, therapy, prevention