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Health crisis for pregnant women: How does asymptomatic bacteriuria affect fetal growth?
During pregnancy, the physiological changes of the mother may expose pregnant women to varying degrees of health risks, among which asymptomatic bacteriuria is a problem that cannot be ignored. In this case, the presence of bacteria in the urine without obvious symptoms is often ignored, but in fact it may have a huge impact on the health of mother and baby.
Studies have shown that pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria may be at risk for low birth weight, premature birth, and cesarean section.
According to statistics, approximately 3% of healthy middle-aged women have asymptomatic bacteriuria. However, in long-term care facilities, this rate can be as high as 50%. Among older men, the figure is about 40 percent. This phenomenon is more common in patients who use urinary catheters for a long time, and almost all patients will experience asymptomatic bacteriuria.
The impact of asymptomatic bacteriuria on pregnant women
The physiological environment during pregnancy favors the growth of pathogens in the urinary tract, making pregnant women more susceptible to asymptomatic bacteriuria. Although asymptomatic bacteriuria itself does not require treatment, if it is not taken seriously, it may lead to a series of complications, including acute cystitis, pyelonephritis and other urinary tract infections (UTI), which are dangerous and have adverse effects on pregnant women and fetuses. factor.
The high-risk period of infection during pregnancy may lead to serious symptoms such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
How to diagnose asymptomatic bacteriuria
Diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria usually relies on urine testing, including urinalysis and urine culture. Urine culture can accurately detect the number and types of bacteria in urine. However, excessive testing of asymptomatic individuals is generally not recommended because asymptomatic bacteriuria is relatively common in healthy adults and excessive testing may cause unnecessary anxiety and intervention.
Screening and treatment during pregnancy
Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is recommended during antenatal care in many countries. Although this practice is controversial, its purpose is to detect and treat early and reduce potential risks to pregnant women and their fetuses. If asymptomatic bacteriuria is found during diagnosis, the doctor will usually decide whether antibiotic treatment is needed to prevent the possibility of further infection after comprehensively considering the patient's health status.
In the absence of other serious health problems, immediate treatment is generally not recommended for pregnant women who are diagnosed with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Experts have long stressed the need to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria with caution, relative to standard UTI treatment, to avoid the side effects of overuse of antibiotics, such as the rise of drug-resistant E. coli infections.
Long-term effects on maternal and fetal health
If asymptomatic bacteriuria is not managed, it may lead to a series of complications during pregnancy, including an increased chance of infection and affected fetal growth and development. However, studies have shown that many cases cannot clearly point to a direct causal relationship, making the issue controversial. Therefore, how to balance the contradiction between screening and treatment remains an urgent problem to be solved in the obstetrics field.
The impact of asymptomatic bacteriuria on the future of pregnant women and their fetuses may not be ignored, and how to address this health challenge is worth our consideration.
