Bacteriuria during pregnancy: danger, symptoms, treatment. Reasons for the appearance of bacteria in the urine of pregnant women

During the entire period of pregnancy, a woman will have to pass. And each time she will expect the results with a certain degree of excitement. And if you are not one of the suspicious ladies, then excitement may arise only later, when a urine test shows the presence of bacteria in it. How bad is it, what does it mean and what to expect? Of course, your gynecologist will answer all these questions. But once you've dug deeper, get it.

What do bacteria in urine mean?

The presence of bacteria in the urine is called bacteriuria. There is even a special term to denote this phenomenon during the period of bearing a child - “bacteriuria of pregnant women.”

Normally, the human urinary system should be clean - without any foreign microorganisms. If bacteria appear in the urine, this means that the system is infected. In the future, bacteria in the urine means the development of inflammatory processes in. First of all, pyelonephritis and, the risk of developing which during pregnancy increases significantly.

There is no benefit from this either for the pregnant woman or for the fetus, and there is a lot of harm. Especially for a developing baby. The threat increases in the case of so-called asymptomatic bacteriuria, when the infection goes unnoticed without any special symptoms, and therefore often cannot be detected in advance.

Both pyelonephritis and bacteriuria as its symptom are a common cause of spontaneous abortions and. In this case, E. coli is most often found in the urine (in 80% of cases), although other bacteria are also found: Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, fecal enterococcus, staphylococci and streptococci.

Where do the bacteria come from?

There can be many reasons for the development of bacteriuria during pregnancy. During this period, many favorable conditions are created in the woman’s body for stagnation of urine and the development of bacteria in it. Do not forget about the constantly growing uterus, which puts pressure on the kidneys and, to a certain extent, prevents their normal functioning. This can also be facilitated by hormonal changes and physiological characteristics of the expectant mother (in particular, the proximity of the urethra to the rectum, short urethra).

Women who have a disordered sex life with frequent changes of partners, improperly maintain personal hygiene, have suffered from sexually transmitted diseases and have chronic diseases or pathologies of the urinary system are highly at risk of the formation of bacteria in the urine during pregnancy. However, even caries and a decrease in immunity can cause the appearance of bacteria in the urine of a pregnant woman.

What to do if there are bacteria in the urine?

Bacteriuria during pregnancy is not uncommon, and often occurs in women even before pregnancy. However, this diagnosis is given to expectant mothers 5 times more often than to non-pregnant women. But the prevalence of the disease does not mean that it is harmless. If bacteriuria is confirmed (for which a repeat urine test is performed), then it should be treated, because the next stage of its development, as we have already said, is urinary tract infections and an increase in the risks associated with bearing a child and childbirth.

Due to the high probability of developing bacteriuria during pregnancy, it is recommended that when registering a woman, she undergoes a mandatory urine test for the presence of bacteria.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

During pregnancy, every woman must pay special attention to her health. Unfortunately, following all the rules and recommendations may not in every case prevent the development of various ailments and pathological conditions. In most cases, expectant mothers have to face such a problem as bacteriuria with.

This disease, like many others, can cause the development of dangerous complications, which in turn will cause a lot of trouble for both the mother and the unborn baby. In order to prevent negative consequences, we will consider in detail why and how bacteria appear in the urine, how dangerous they are for the fetus and how to properly deal with it.

What is bacteriuria during pregnancy?

Normally, the urine of a healthy person should be completely sterile, that is, it should not even contain beneficial bacteria. But due to the fact that during pregnancy a woman’s body experiences numerous changes, and first of all, the active growth of the uterus occurs, all internal organs begin to compress each other, thereby disrupting their usual functioning.

Very often, women experience discomfort in the abdominal area (the intestines shift, the stomach and gall bladder begin to ache). In addition, the most unpleasant thing is the development of urinary tract diseases. First of all, these include bacteriuria.

For pregnant women, this disease poses a great danger, which is why it is so important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and begin its immediate treatment.

The danger of the development of bacteria in the urine for the expectant mother is that pathogenic microorganisms can quite easily move from the uterus to the bladder (after all, they are located very close to each other). If the genital organs become infected, the likelihood of concomitant urinary tract diseases increases, which in this situation can worsen the woman’s well-being.

Bacteria in urine: where do they come from?

Today, experts associate detection in the urine of pregnant women with the course of the following diseases:

• Cystitis. The mucous membrane of the bladder becomes severely inflamed due to decreased immunity or frequent hypothermia. At the same time, the expectant mother constantly feels the urge to go to the toilet. In advanced cases, there is a sharp increase in body temperature, pain in the lower abdomen and the appearance of bloody discharge in the urine.
• Pyelonephritis. In this situation, the inflammatory process is localized in the renal pelvis. The development of pyelonephritis can be provoked by intestinal or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as pathogenic fungi. In this case, women experience an increase in body temperature, severe chills and pain in the lumbar region.
• Urethritis. Urethritis develops as a result of the penetration of various bacteria and microorganisms directly into the urethra itself, which causes a strong inflammatory process along all its walls. The disease is quite dangerous and therefore requires urgent drug therapy.

Bacteria in urine can also appear due to:

• a sharp increase in the size of the uterus (it puts pressure on the kidneys and does not allow them to perform their functions correctly)
• diseases of teeth and gums
• poor intimate hygiene
• a large number of sexual partners
• close location of the ureter and rectum

That’s why it’s so important to monitor your well-being while pregnant.

Manifesting symptoms and norms of urine parameters

The results of urine analysis of a pregnant woman and a healthy person, in fact, do not differ in any way from each other. This means that in both cases there should be no bacteria present in the urine.

An indicator value that will not exceed 10 to the 6th power per 1 milliliter can be considered an acceptable limit, but it is not recommended to ignore such a result.

If possible, you will need to undergo medical tests (ultrasound diagnostics) to confirm the absence of an inflammatory process in the kidneys.

Symptoms of bacteriuria appear as follows:

• there is pain and burning when emptying the bladder
• severe nausea and vomiting
• increase in body temperature
• urine becomes cloudy
• the smell of urine is strong
• involuntary urination
• pain in the back, lower abdomen and bladder
• fatigue and weakness
• pus begins to be released from the urinary tract

You need to know that bacteriuria can occur without any symptoms, which makes it even more dangerous for women's health.

Bacteriuria: what is the danger?

Bacteriuria during pregnancy, the effect on the fetus with timely diagnosis and proper treatment does not pose a serious danger to the health of the unborn baby. But if you ignore the emerging signs of the disease, the consequences can have negative and at that time irreversible consequences:

• When bacteria appear in the urine, the ureter begins to expand greatly (most often, a similar process occurs in the last months of pregnancy). For this reason, the baby is born with a very low body weight.
• Diagnosing bacteriuria in urine can provoke miscarriage or cause premature pregnancy.
• Bacteriuria can cause infection of the unborn child itself, resulting in the manifestation of jaundice after childbirth and the course of diseases, the treatment of which is carried out only with the use of antibiotics.

To avoid this, it is important for a woman to regularly see her doctor and undergo all necessary laboratory blood and urine tests in a timely manner.

Diagnosis of the disease

Since bacteriuria is not always accompanied by certain symptoms, to identify it you will need to undergo special medical tests, laboratory tests, and consultation with additional specialists.

The most informative diagnostic methods include the following:

• blood test (general)
• blood test (biochemical)
• general urine analysis
• urine test for sterility (culture)
• ultrasound examination of internal organs
• ultrasound diagnostics of the fetus

If necessary, the woman can be sent for additional consultation with a nephrologist.

But based on the results of the examinations, the specialist makes an accurate assessment and prescribes further treatment. In most cases, it is based on the use of antibacterial medications.

Competent solution to the problem

Bacteriuria during pregnancy is prescribed depending on the severity and well-being of the expectant mother. If your health condition allows, then treatment can be carried out at home, and you must regularly see your doctor.

At home, only maintenance therapy is provided without the use of antibiotics. In this case, you need to pay special attention to nutrition; it should consist of those foods that will help increase the acidity of urine and stimulate its excretion from the body.

To do this you need:

• drink plenty of warm water (helps increase urine density)
• Instead of black tea, drink cranberry juice, rosehip or lingonberry infusion
• Tea with lemon will also have a positive effect
• if possible, you should drink decoctions based on birch buds, juniper, parsley and bearberry
• lingonberry leaf has a diuretic effect, which will also not be superfluous

Traditional medicine recipes are used as an auxiliary treatment; they cannot completely get rid of the disease!

Preventive actions

To prevent the development of bacteriuria during pregnancy, you need to follow the following recommendations:

• A woman should visit her gynecologist in a timely manner and take all necessary blood and urine tests (urinalysis for sterility is mandatory).
• If necessary, an unscheduled ultrasound examination is prescribed (helps diagnose inflammation in the kidneys, if any).
• Carefully monitor intimate hygiene.
• Avoid hypothermia.
• Maintain a drinking regime (at least 1.5 liters per day).
• Healthy and balanced.

Even when the number of bacteria in the urine is within normal limits, you should not hope that the disease will disappear on its own. It is very important for pregnant women to pay attention to the manifestation of nonspecific symptoms in a timely manner and urgently seek emergency medical help. This is the only way to keep your baby safe!

Learn more about bacteriuria in the video:

Pregnancy is a state in a woman’s life when she does not expect anything unpleasant and lives with thoughts about the future baby. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, but you also need to be aware of possible troubles that may await the expectant mother. It is not for nothing that the registration of pregnant women is kept so scrupulously; patients who have not registered or do not regularly attend antenatal clinics are called by a doctor by phone, and a midwife comes to their home. Tests in pregnant women sometimes change very quickly and unexpectedly. We have already written about how important normal blood clotting is during pregnancy. Today we will talk about bacteriuria.

Bacteriuria is bacteria in the urine. Today in our article we are looking at bacteriuria in pregnant women, but you should know that the regular appearance of bacteria in the urine of any person (man, woman, child) is not normal.

Urine is a sterile waste product of the body, it is excreted from the inside, formed by the kidneys and should not contain any foreign flora.

What are the symptoms of bacteriuria?

Let's start with the fact that diagnoses for pregnant women most often include the concepts of “asymptomatic bacteriuria” or “UTI”.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is bacteria in the urine detected during bacteriological culture, which do not in any way affect the patient’s well-being.

UTI is an abbreviation for urinary tract infection, usually followed by a specification of the infection: pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria with bacteria in the urine

Let's take a closer look at what asymptomatic bacteriuria is and what should be done.
In pregnant women, this condition occurs in approximately 8 - 10%. This compares to about 2% for men and non-pregnant women. It becomes clear that pregnancy is a predisposing factor.

During pregnancy, the level of progesterone in a woman’s body increases significantly. We have talked about this repeatedly in a variety of aspects, because the activity of progesterone is truly diverse. This hormone maintains the uterus in normal tone, that is, in a relaxed state, prevents it from straining and thereby prevents miscarriage or premature birth.

But progesterone also provides other organs with the same relaxing effect. First of all, muscular organs (bladder and ureters, stomach, esophagus and intestines) and blood vessels (varicose veins on the legs and in the perineum, hemorrhoids) are affected. When the urinary tract is relaxed, it may not allow the proper flow of urine. That is, backflow of urine occurs into the renal pelvis and into the bladder. The protection against the penetration of bacteria from the outside is also compromised. The female urethra (urethra) is much shorter than the male urethra and wider, making it easy for bacteria from the vagina to enter there. These risk factors are aggravated by improper hygiene (washing from back to front), wearing tight synthetic underwear, thong panties, and untreated infection in the vagina (for example, thrush, which develops very often in pregnant women).

Asymptomatic bacteriuria has this name precisely because the pregnant woman does not feel discomfort and does not complain about anything. That is why consultations so often require urine tests, and all patients must undergo bacteriological urine culture once during pregnancy.

A general urine test (UCA) is a fairly simple and informative study. Here we can see signs of inflammation, increased protein, the appearance of ketone bodies (acetone) and glucose. Any deviation from the norm requires further examination.

Symptoms of UTI:

Pain, cutting when urinating. Pain can be either “at the outlet”, in the area of ​​the urethra, or in the lumbar region.
- Frequent urination. We are not talking about the usual increase in visits to the toilet in pregnant women. With a urinary tract infection, the patient urinates painfully drop by drop literally every 5 to 15 minutes.
- Nocturia. Nocturia is predominantly urination at night, when the kidneys are warm and the body is in a horizontal position. This makes it easier for the kidneys to work and they strengthen their function, urine is produced, and the urge to go to the toilet appears.
- Fever. An increase in body temperature, chills, and a feeling of chills in the lower back indicate the spread of infection and require immediate medical attention.

Causes of bacteria in urine

We examined asymptomatic bacteriuria separately, because here the actions of a doctor are necessary for diagnosis. If the patient has complaints, she will talk about them or contact them out of turn.

First we will look at the microorganisms that cause inflammation and cause so much trouble for our patients.

Escherichia coli. Up to 80% of asymptomatic bacteriuria and about half of UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli. The mechanism of entry of the microorganism into the urinary tract and kidneys is different. If the body is weakened (HIV infection, diabetes mellitus and other serious diseases), then bacteria enter from the intestines into the blood and then into the kidneys. This path is called bacterial translocation. Much more often, simple mechanical infection occurs. The already mentioned incorrect underwear and improper/insufficient hygiene.

Staphylococci. Staphylococci (most often infection from the skin) account for up to 15% of all cases.

Other pathogens (dangerous Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Proteus). These pathogens are less common, ranging from 2 to 7%. They mainly affect patients with reduced immunity.

Diseases accompanied by the appearance of bacteria in the urine:

Cystitis is an inflammation of the walls of the bladder. The disease is accompanied by severe pain/soreness and increased urination. Urine with cystitis will contain a high content of leukocytes and bacteria. This condition is treated by a urologist together with a gynecologist.

2. Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the renal pelvis and urinary tract. Urine with pyelonephritis also contains a large number of bacteria and inflammatory cells (leukocytes).
If a woman had congenital kidney anomalies before pregnancy (polycystic kidney disease, incomplete reversal, duplication of the kidneys or pelvis, ureteral anomalies), then it is much easier for the infection to find the point of impact. In the presence of defects, chronic pyelonephritis develops much more often. It happens that we identify kidney features and long-standing chronic inflammatory process only during pregnancy. Often this happens only because no one forced the patient to take tests and undergo medical examination outside of pregnancy.

3. Urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, that is, the urethra. It can be caused by both ordinary bacteria (listed above) and STI pathogens (chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas).

4. Vulvovaginitis
An inflammatory process in the vagina (vulvovaginitis or colpitis in other words) can give rise to true or false bacteriuria.
True is the spread of inflammation from the vagina to the urethra and above.
False is when vaginal discharge gets into a jar when collecting urine for analysis.
Often, STIs affect both the vagina and urethra, so there is no need to be offended by the gynecologist if he suspects such an infection. It often happens that an infection has existed in a woman’s body for a long time, but only worsened with pregnancy.

Diagnosis when detecting bacteria in urine

1. General urinalysis (UCA)
2. Bacteriological culture of urine for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics (bacteriological culture of urine)
3. Complete blood count (CBC)
4. Biochemical blood test (BAC)

To begin with, the pregnant woman takes the OAM. A general urine test is taken at least 4 times during pregnancy: at registration, at 20 weeks, at 30 weeks and at 34-36 weeks. If deviations from the norm are detected during pregnancy, such as swelling of the legs, face and hands, increased blood pressure, headaches, lower back pain, temperature, pain when urinating, significant increase in urination - OAM is more common. The frequency of urine testing can reach “OAM at every appearance”, and in the later stages this is every week. If you are recommended to undergo a urine test at every appointment, then do not be surprised. Your doctor just doesn’t want to miss anything and carefully monitors your health.

Urine culture must be carried out once per pregnancy for absolutely all patients; this is done in the second trimester. If there are changes in the general urine analysis, then additional urine culture is indicated.

The concentration of bacteria in the urine and their type are of fundamental importance in the choice of further treatment.

A bacterial concentration of 10*3 in the absence of symptoms requires evaluation of other tests (complete blood count, vaginal smear for flora) and monitoring over time.

Concentration 10*3 in the presence of complaints (pain and cramps when urinating, lower back pain, increased body temperature, change in the appearance and smell of urine) is subject to treatment.

A concentration of 10*5 requires antibacterial therapy in any case, even if nothing bothers the woman.

If the culture result requires treatment, then the test should be retaken 7–14 days after the end of antibiotic therapy. Urine culture after treatment must be “clean”, that is, free of bacteria, or a minimum of them is detected. If, as a result, microorganisms grow again abundantly, then the treatment regimen should be changed and the culture should also be further monitored.

General blood analysis will show us whether there is massive inflammation and a decrease in hemoglobin in a pregnant woman. If we see pronounced inflammatory changes in the blood, we can opt for injectable antibiotics.

In a biochemical blood test, in this case, we are interested in indicators of protein (total protein and fractions: albumins and globulins) and nitrogen (creatinine, urea) metabolism. If a renal problem is reflected in the biochemical analysis, then additional consultation with a nephrologist and urologist is necessary.

Norms of tests during pregnancy

General urine analysis. The TAM should not contain bacteria, blood or salts; single red blood cells are allowed

Urine culture. The culture allows the presence of bacteria up to a level of 10*4 without complaints of dysuria (unpleasant sensations and increased frequency of urination) and lower back pain.

General blood analysis. There should be no inflammatory changes or anemia in the blood. Leukocytes in pregnant women are always slightly higher than usual, but you should focus on the level of 10-12 thousand in the absence of complaints of fever, weakness, or chills. In the presence of such complaints, more attention is paid to clinical manifestations than to tests. A pregnant woman's hemoglobin should not decrease below 110 g/l. Anemia does not directly indicate kidney disease, but with low hemoglobin, recovery is slower.

Blood chemistry. In biochemistry, it is necessary to ensure normal levels of protein (60-80 g/l - which means the kidneys do not lose protein and their filtration function is normal), creatinine (52 - 98 µmol/l) and urea (2.5 - 8.3 µmol/l). Creatinine and urea are indicators of the neutralizing function of the kidneys; when they increase, we think about the initial manifestations of renal failure.

Treatment if bacteria are detected in urine

In the diet of patients with urinary tract diseases, there should be an advantage of dairy and plant foods. You should limit salty foods, exclude spicy, smoked, fried and very sour dishes and foods. It is necessary to drink enough fluids, but watch your urination so as not to provoke swelling. The volume of liquid you drink should be approximately equal to the volume of urine excreted.

2. Penicillins

Penicillins are a group of drugs known for a very long time (the first antibiotic discovered was of the penicillin group). Accordingly, the drug has long been tested and tested by millions of patients, including pregnant women. Drugs in this group are allowed to be taken from the first trimester. Penicillins penetrate the fetus, but do not harm it, since they bind only to pathogenic bacteria.

For pregnant women, penicillins are the drugs of choice in the treatment of a wide variety of infectious diseases. This includes bacterial diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Amoxicillin (Flemoxin - Solutab) and amoxiclav (Augmentin) are used first. The daily dosage ranges from 500 mg 2 times a day to 1000 mg 2 times a day, and the duration of administration is from 5 to 14 days. The dosage and duration of use are determined by the doctor managing your pregnancy. It is necessary to choose the minimum active dosage so as not to once again burden the patient’s liver and intestines, which also experience additional effects during pregnancy.

3. Cephalosporins

Cephalosporins have similar effects to penicillins. Allowed for use from the second trimester. Tablet (Suprax) and injectable (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone) drugs are used. Their use is permitted from the beginning of the second trimester. Sometimes cephalosporins are prescribed when penicillins are ineffective, less often immediately as a drug of choice. If the infection is widespread, the patient has a fever or lower back pain, then the drug ceftriaxone is usually preferred, 1 gram per day intramuscularly, the course duration is from 5 to 21 days.

4. Other antibiotics

Macrolides
From the group of macrolides, erythromycin, azithromycin and josamycin are used. This primarily concerns bacteriuria, which is combined with a genital tract infection. For example, with chlamydia.

Antibiotic from the group of phosphonic acid derivatives
Fosfomycin (monural, phosphoral rompharm, ecofomural) has recently gained great popularity. This is not surprising, because often a single use of 1 package of powder (3.0 grams) is enough to cure a urinary infection. The frequency of administration will be determined by your doctor; sometimes a second powder is prescribed after 7-10 or 14 days.

5. Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages are “domesticated” and “cultured” viruses that eat bacteria. These are drugs with a specific, targeted action. That is, if we see staphylococci in the culture, we recommend staphylococcal bacteriophage. It does not work against other bacteria. Not all bacteria have bacteriophages created for them. But if there is available flora, frequent relapses of bacteriuria, unsuccessful treatment with antibiotics, then additional treatment with bacteriophages is often the only solution. Bacteriophage preparations are quite expensive (for example, staphylococcal bacteriophage starts from 1000 rubles per package; more may be needed for a course), and this limits their use.

6. Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine occupies a special place in bacterial kidney diseases. Perhaps, in no other group of diseases are herbs used so widely.

Canephron
Canephron is a herbal medicine that includes rosemary leaves, centaury herb and lovage roots. Widely used in pregnant women, the dosage is 2 tablets 3 times a day, the duration varies, from 10 days to long-term use with breaks, up to taking the entire pregnancy.

Brusniver
Brusniver is a herbal preparation that consists of lingonberry leaves, rose hips and St. John's wort and string. Available in the form of filter bags and briquettes for brewing. Brusniver is used from the second trimester, since the stimulating effect of herbs can cause uterine hypertonicity. Dosages and duration are determined only by the attending physician.

Zhuravit
This is a medicine that is registered as a dietary supplement. Includes cranberry extract and ascorbic acid. Cranberry has long been known for its uroantiseptic effect. The drug has been used not so long ago, but has already proven itself with positive results. In the first three days of the disease, take 3 tablets per day, then 1 tablet per day. The duration of treatment is from 2 weeks, under the supervision of a doctor.

Cyston
Cyston is an official herbal medicine, which includes flowers of double-carp, stems of saxifrage, onosma and madder, roots of syta, seeds of strawflower, leaves and stele of vernonia, as well as mumiyo. Take 2 tablets 2 times a day, duration from 2 to 4 weeks under the supervision of the attending physician.

Sometimes you have to change medications, combine them and prescribe more frequent test monitoring. This should not scare you, in this way the doctor achieves good results, complete cure or minimization of the process and significantly reduces the risk of infection for the unborn baby.

Complications of bacteruria

If you do not get rid of bacteria in the urine, you can get completely undesirable complications, both from the mother and from the unborn child.

Complications from the mother:

- Rising infection
Much depends on the stage at which the infection was detected, whether it is true or false, and the state of the patient’s immunity. Asymptomatic bacteriuria can develop into urethritis or cystitis, then into pyelonephritis.

- Obstetric sepsis
During childbirth or (even more so!) a cesarean section against the background of an untreated bacterial infection in the kidneys and urinary tract, the risk of generalization of the infection increases very noticeably. That is, spread to areas far from the kidneys, for example, through the blood to the brain, the gates of the liver or to the heart with the development of bacterial endocarditis.

Fetal complications:

- Intrauterine infection of the fetus
The infection settles on the fetal tissues and disrupts their development. Depending on the period, we can observe polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios (up to a critical lack of water), fetal growth retardation, congenital pneumonia and other equally serious consequences.
In this case, the water on ultrasound looks like cloudy, with flakes or suspension.

- Premature birth
Infection in the mother's body often triggers a self-rescue mechanism. If pregnancy is a condition with a physiological decrease in immunity, then the pregnancy must be terminated. The risk of premature birth increases. At 34-36 weeks, the baby is usually quite mature and has a favorable prognosis for life. The situation will be completely different if childbirth occurs at 22–28 weeks. This is extreme prematurity and the prognosis for the child is not always good.

Forecast

If treatment is started at the stage of asymptomatic bacteriuria or uncomplicated UTI, then the prognosis is very favorable, the infection is completely cured and neither the patient nor the fetus are at risk of complications. But even with an established infection, a sufficient course of antibiotics, supplemented with herbal remedies and/or bacteriophages, can correct the situation.

Preventing bacteria from appearing in urine

Regular observation at the antenatal clinic will help identify infection at an early stage, and conscientious adherence to the doctor’s recommendations will prevent bacteria from spreading and causing complications. Prevention on your part will be a timely visit to a gynecologist if complaints arise.

Despite the serious consequences, the situation with the detection of bacteria in the urine of pregnant women is not at all so tragic. Complications develop mainly in those women who are not regularly monitored, do not take antibiotics (often for personal reasons) and refuse hospitalization for pyelonephritis. Your gynecologist will not want to harm you, follow the instructions, take care of yourself and be healthy!

Obstetrician-gynecologist Berdnikova A.V.

• You need to take at least two liters of liquid per day, not counting juices, soups, tea and milk.
• It is important to drink natural, clean water, lingonberry or cranberry juice, rosehip decoction.
• It is important to adhere to a special diet, avoiding salty and spicy foods, fried and fatty foods; it is forbidden to take calcium supplements; in conditions of kidney inflammation, they can provoke the formation of sand and kidney stones.
• In your diet, you should give preference to light vegetable foods containing fiber and coarse fibers.
• Need boiled, baked, steamed and stewed food

It is important to eat properly and efficiently throughout pregnancy, especially if there are restrictions for medicinal purposes. You should choose and buy in Mom’s Store for pregnant and lactating women, which you can eat every day, take with you to work or on a trip. These products have an excellent composition made from high-quality raw materials.

Note. Returns of food and cosmetic products are only possible if the packaging is undamaged.

When shopping in we guarantee pleasant and fast service .

Carrying out unloading

In order to improve the flow of urine in the kidneys and ureters, it is necessary to carry out unloading exercises, gymnastics and activities. This can be done several times a day.

• Take a knee-elbow position and stand in this position for 10 minutes, this should be repeated as often as possible during the day.
• It is worth giving up sleeping on your back; in this position, the kidneys and ureters are strongly compressed by the growing uterus.
• It is important to empty your bladder regularly without allowing it to become overfilled.

Above all, do not refuse regular urine tests prescribed by your doctor. This will help control the condition.

We express special gratitude to pediatrician Alena Paretskaya for preparing this material.

Bacteriuria during pregnancy– the presence in the bladder of a pregnant woman of harmful bacteria that can cause various infectious diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Often accompanied by other clinical signs: pain when going to the toilet, fever and nausea.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy is a condition in which microorganisms are present in the urine, but there are no associated clinical signs. This syndrome is quite difficult to diagnose due to the lack of complaints, but its cause can be dangerous diseases that lead to severe complications.

The effect of bacteriuria during pregnancy on the fetus can be extremely negative. Sometimes this syndrome causes intrauterine infection of the fetus. In addition, bacteriuria may increase the risk of preterm birth, preterm pregnancy, and stillbirth.

Causes

Bacteriuria during pregnancy can occur due to internal factors associated with changes in the body of expectant mothers:

1. Pressure of the enlarged uterus on the kidneys, which leads to deterioration of urine filtration.
2. Stagnation of feces in the intestines and its pressure on the kidneys and urinary tract.
3. Hormonal changes that cause a decrease in the tone of the ureters.
4. Decrease in local and general immune status.
5. Stagnation of urine due to a decrease in the lumen of the ureters and dilation of the renal pelvis.
6. Relaxation of the smooth muscles of the bladder and stagnation of urine in it.
7. Changes in the acid-base composition of urine.

Among the external causes that cause bacteriuria are:

1. Ascending contamination of the kidneys and urinary tract with microorganisms (from the external environment, rectum).
2. The presence of a focus of infection in a woman’s body and its migration to the kidneys.

Signs of the disease

Asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy is not accompanied by clinical symptoms. This pathology can be diagnosed only by analyzing urine for microflora during a routine visit to a gynecologist. Asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy can serve as a factor in the development of acute kidney diseases associated with an increase in the number of microorganisms.

Symptoms of clinically significant bacteriuria depend on the organ in which the infectious process occurs. With kidney damage (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), pregnant women develop:

• hyperthermia;
• blood in urine;
• reduction or increase in urine volume;
• swelling;
• general weakness.

Symptoms of bladder damage are: frequent painful urination in small portions of urine containing blood, increased body temperature and pain in the lower abdomen.

Clinical signs of urethritis - inflammation of the urinary tract, are:

• sharp pain when urinating;
• bloody, purulent impurities in the urine;
• general signs of inflammation (fever, weakness).

Treatment methods

Treatment of bacteriuria in pregnant women should be quite effective and safe for the fetus. However, before starting treatment for this disease, you should verify its accuracy by analyzing urine according to Nechiporenko. If there is an increased content of leukocytes in the urine, a treatment plan is created. Using a urine culture tank, the microorganism that causes the infection is isolated.

The first step in treating bacteriuria is to reduce the acidity and amount of urine. Drugs such as Canephron, Cyston, and kidney teas are used. After a course of these medications, usually 3-7 days, a repeat urine culture is done. If urine contamination decreases below 100,000 microorganisms per 1 ml, bacteriuria is considered cured.

Attention! If a pregnant woman experiences pain, blood, pus when urinating, a change in diuresis and general signs of an inflammatory reaction in the body, you should immediately consult a doctor, since these symptoms may be a manifestation of bacteriuria.

The second step in treating bacteriuria is taking antimicrobial drugs. Their appointment is possible only after the 1st trimester, when the fetal organs are completely congested. Typically, penicillins and cephalosporins are used in the treatment of bacteriuria; the duration of their use is 5-7 days. Next, a control urine test is performed. If bacteriuria does not disappear, stronger antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, are prescribed.

Thus, the duration of therapy for bacteriuria is on average 1-2 weeks. For mild cases of the disease, outpatient treatment with routine examinations by the attending physician is possible. If bacteriuria is caused by serious infectious processes in the kidneys and urinary tract, urgent hospitalization is necessary.

Prevention

To prevent the development of bacteriuria, pregnant women should undergo routine blood and urine tests, which help diagnose various pathologies in the early stages. Expectant mothers need to carefully monitor the hygiene of the external genitalia to prevent the upward spread of infection.

To exclude pathologies of the urinary system, expectant mothers should follow a drinking regime - drink 1.5-2 liters of clean water per day. The prevention of any infectious diseases is to strengthen the immune system - daily walks in the fresh air, good sleep, a varied diet rich in vitamins and microelements.