ABSTRACT

Bacteriuria is the presence of bacteria in the urine. The concept of significant bacteriuria was introduced to distinguish between the bacteria that are actually multiplying in the urine from the contaminants in collecting vessels, periurethral tissues and urethra, and gross fecal or vaginal contamination (Greifer, 1974). The criterion for significant bacteriuria is the presence of i05 CFU/ml of urine or more, and is an excellent operational definition. It is generally accepted that 1O5or more CFU/ml of urine is significant bacteriuria, though the patients may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Some young women have dysuria and other symptoms of cystitis with less than i05CFU/ml of a gram negative rod may be significant bacteriuria (Greifer, 1974). Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a significant number of bacteria in the urine that occurs without usual symptoms such as burning during urination or frequent urination. Asymptomatic bacteriuria may not need treatment, which makes it different from a bacterial urinary tract V infection. Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs in a small number of healthy individuals. It more often affects women than men (Vigg et al., 1977). Most patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria do not need treatment because the bacteria are not causing any harm. Persons who have urinary catheters often will have bacteriuria, but most will not have symptoms. Certain people are at a higher risk of kidney infections if they develop asymptomatic bacteriuria and the risk is increased by diabetes, infected kidney stones, kidney transplant, older age, pregnancy, vesicoureteral reflux in young children (Robbins et al., 1944). Untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to a kidney infection in high risk individuals. In some cases, particularly in those who have had kidney transplants, such infections may lead to the loss of kidney function. Finding bacteria in the urine can mean there is an infection somewhere in the urinary tract