THE EFFECTS OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS AMONG PREGANANT WOMEN

Dr. Varsha N. Bhat* and Dr. Veena Shetty

ABSTRACT

Background - The aim of the study was to investigate the etiology of UTI and its antibiotic profile in pregnant women; and to assess the excretion of urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase(SOD) levels in pregnant women with UTI and to compare them with healthy pregnant women without UTI and also to investigate if antioxidant enzymes and MDA differed in each trimester. Methods - This is a cross sectional study carried out between November 2015 to April 2016 at K.S.Hegde Charitable Hospital, Deralakatte. The study included 100 pregnant women reporting to OBG &Gynecology OPD with complaints of UTI as well as healthy pregnant women without UTI symptoms. Biochemical analysis and microbiological culture of urine was done. Results - Out of 100 samples 86 samples had no growth and 14 samples were positive for urinary pathogen. The prevalence of UTI infection in relation to age showed- individuals of age group 26-30 years had highest incidence of infection. Among the significant urinary isolate E.coli had highest prevalence. In the study there was significant variation between MDA,SOD values between pregnant women with UTI and healthy pregnant women. Trimester wise there was significant variation in MDA between 1st and 3rd trimester and SOD levels between 2nd and 3rd trimester which suggests that gestational period plays a major role in aggravation of UTI among pregnant women. Conclusion - Pregnancy causes oxidative stress from first to third trimester and UTI may aggravate the oxidative stress during pregnancy. Screening with urine culture during pregnancy and treatment of asymptomatic bacteruria may provide modest reduction in pyelonephritis among women and may reduce number of preterm and low-birth weight infant. Increasing antibiotic resistance trends in UTI patients indicates that it is imperative to rationalize the use of antimicrobials to limit antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteruria, Urinary tract infection, Pregnant women.