Abstract Background and objectives: Aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), common pathogens involved, the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and to determine the outcome in patients with significant bacteriuria. This cross-sectional study was carried out at Al Ameen Medical College, Bijapur from November 2013 – October 2015. Methods: Over a two years period urine samples were collected from 300 pregnant women aged between 18-37 years with varying gestational periods attending the antenatal clinic on their first visit. A clean catch mid stream urine specimens were collected in a sterile container and processed within half an hour. Screening tests - Gram staining of uncentrifuged urine, pus cell count, nitrite test and leukocyte esterase test were done. Culture of urine samples were done by a semiquantitative method, standard loop technique on Blood agar and Mac Conkey agar and incubated at 370C for 24 hours. Significant bacteriuria with > 105CFU/ml of urine was confirmed by colony count. Organisms were identified and antibiotic sensitivity test performed. Result: Out of 300 pregnant women included in our study, 25 (8.4%) patients were identified by culture to have significant bacteriuria. Maximum numbers of patients belong to the age group 22-25 years and highest percentage of significant bacteriuria (60%) was identified in the same age group. High percentage of asymptomatic bacteriuria seen in 3rd (56%) trimester and in multigravidas (44% in gravid 2). Significant bacteriuria was high among the lower socio-economic group (92%). E. coli (52%) was the most common organism followed by K. pneumoniae (20%). Prevalence of Gram-negative organism was 84%. The drug sensitivity revealed that 88.5% of isolates were sensitive to amikacin followed by TMP-SFX (80.8%). Among 25 patients with ASB, two had (8%) moderate anemia, one had (4%) severe pre-eclampsia at term, and one had (4%) preterm labor. Two (8%) patients had recurrent infection. Conclusion: This study conducted to identify the common pathogens causing ASB in pregnant women with antibiotic sensitivity so that early treatment can be started and deadly complications can be prevented. Resistance was encountered to the common drugs used in treatment posing problems in treating the patients, hence urine culture and sensitivity is gold standard approach in treating ASB.

Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria; Pregnancy; Outcome; Prevalence.