Login
Section Medicine

Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Women in Al-Diwaniyah City

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): June :

Layth Hussein Hadi Alshaibah (1)

(1) College of Dentistry, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniya, Iraq
Fulltext View | Download

Abstract:

General Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most prevalent infectious complication during pregnancy, ranging from asymptomatic bacteriuria to severe pyelonephritis. Specific Background: These infections cause significant maternal and fetal morbidity, yet bacterial etiology and severity patterns across gestational periods remain incompletely characterized regionally. Knowledge Gap: Limited data exist regarding trimester-specific bacterial profiles and inflammatory marker correlations with UTI severity in Al-Diwaniyah province. Aims: This cross-sectional study identified bacterial pathogens causing UTIs in 140 pregnant women and examined associations between inflammatory markers and infection severity across trimesters. Results: Escherichia coli (55%) and Klebsiella (18%) predominated, with severity increasing from mild first-trimester to severe third-trimester infections. Inflammatory markers (WBC, CRP, procalcitonin, proteinuria) correlated significantly with disease severity. Novelty: This study establishes trimester-specific bacterial distributions and severity-biomarker relationships in this population. Implications: Findings support targeted screening protocols and trimester-appropriate antimicrobial strategies for improved maternal-fetal outcomes.
Keywords : Urinary Tract Infections, Pregnant Women, Escherichia coli, Bacterial Pathogens, Pregnancy Complications
Highlight :



  • E. coli caused 55% of infections, primarily in severe third-trimester cases.

  • Infection severity increased significantly with gestational age across all three trimesters.

  • Inflammatory markers were highest in very severe cases, especially white blood cells.









 
 



 


 



 







 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

D. A. Wing, M. J. Fassett, and D. Getahun, "Acute Pyelonephritis in Pregnancy: An 18-Year Retrospective Analysis," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 210, no. 3, pp. 219.e1-6, Mar. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.10.006.

Y. Moradi, B. Eshrati, S. A. Motevalian, et al., "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Prevalence of Escherichia Coli and Extended-Spectrum β Lactamase-Producing Escherichia Coli in Pregnant Women," Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 303, no. 2, pp. 363-379, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05802-x.

C. C. Ribeiro-do-Valle, M. Bonet, V. Brizuela, E. Abalos, A. Baguiya, F. Bellissimo-Rodrigues, M. Budianu, L. Puscasiu, M. Knight, D. Lissauer, C. Dunlop, S. T. Jacob, S. Shakoor, L. Gadama, B. Assarag, J. P. Souza, and J. G. Cecatti, WHO GLOSS Research Group, "Aetiology and Use of Antibiotics in Pregnancy-Related Infections: Results of the WHO Global Maternal Sepsis Study (GLOSS), 1-Week Inception Cohort," Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 21, Feb. 24, 2024, doi: 10.1186/s12941-024-00685-0.

K. S. Crider, M. A. Cleves, J. Reefhuis, et al., "Antibacterial Medication Use During Pregnancy and Risk of Birth Defects: National Birth Defects Prevention Study," Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, vol. 163, no. 11, pp. 978-85, Nov. 2009, doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.188.

J. S. Molina-Muñoz, J. Cuadrado-Angulo, C. F. Grillo-Ardila, et al., "Consensus for the Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Infections During Pregnancy," Revista Colombiana de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 37-52, Mar. 30, 2023, doi: 10.18597/rcog.3950.

Y. Perlitz, E. Saffoury, N. Shabso, et al., "Maternal and Neonatal Outcome of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria at Term Pregnancy," Pathogens and Disease, vol. 77, no. 5, Jul. 01, 2019, doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftz044.

C. Schneeberger, J. J. H. M. Erwich, E. R. van den Heuvel, et al., "Asymptomatic Bacteriuria and Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnant Women With and Without Diabetes: Cohort Study," European Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 222, pp. 176-181, Mar. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.01.003.

L. Oud, "Mortality Associated With Severe Sepsis Among Age-Similar Women With and Without Pregnancy-Associated Hospitalization in Texas: A Population-Based Study," Medical Science Monitor, vol. 22, pp. 1976-1986, 2016, doi: 10.12659/MSM.895987.

M. E. Bauer, M. Housey, S. T. Bauer, et al., "Risk Factors, Etiologies, and Screening Tools for Sepsis in Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Case-Control Study," Anesthesia and Analgesia, vol. 129, pp. 1613-1620, 2019, doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004338.

M. Bonet, V. Brizuela, E. Abalos, et al., "Frequency and Management of Maternal Infection in Health Facilities in 52 Countries (GLOSS): A 1-Week Inception Cohort Study," Lancet Global Health, vol. 8, pp. e661-e671, 2020, doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30109-1.

M. M. Derebe, U. R. Paladhi, F. Workneh, et al., "Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Women in Rural West Amhara, Ethiopia: Prevalence, Bacterial Etiology, Risk Factors, and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns," Research Square [Preprint], Jan. 9, 2025, doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5737078.

N. Salari, Y. Khoshbakht, M. Hemmati, et al., "Global Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnant Mothers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Public Health, vol. 224, pp. 58-65, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.025.

M. A. Kazaal, "Quadruplex PCR for Phylogenetic Analysis of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli in Iraqi," Journal of Biomedicine and Biochemistry, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 1-8, 2023.

K. Abduljalil, P. Furness, T. N. Johnson, et al., "Anatomical, Physiological and Metabolic Changes With Gestational Age During Normal Pregnancy: Database for Parameters Required in Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling," Clinical Pharmacokinetics, vol. 51, pp. 365-396, 2012, doi: 10.2165/11597440-000000000-00000.

N. A. Al-Mamoryi and A. S. Al-Salman, "Prevalence of Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infections and Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Iraqi Pregnant Women of Babylon Governorate," Medical Journal of Babylon, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 5-12, 2019, doi: 10.4103/MJBL.MJBL_44_18.

A. Girma, A. Aemiro, D. Workineh, and D. Tamir, "Magnitude, Associated Risk Factors, and Trend Comparisons of Urinary Tract Infection Among Pregnant Women and Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Journal of Pregnancy, vol. 2023, p. 8365867, Jul. 28, 2023, doi: 10.1155/2023/8365867.

A. Eltahawy and R. Khalaf, "Urinary Tract Infection at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia: Incidence, Microbiology, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility," Annals of Saudi Medicine, vol. 8, pp. 261-266, 1988.

M. Alzohairy and H. Khadri, "Frequency and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Uro Pathogens Isolated From Community and Hospital-Acquired Infections in Saudi Arabia - A Prospective Case Study," British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, vol. 1, pp. 45-56, 2012.

A. L. Flores-Mireles, J. N. Walker, M. Caparon, and S. J. Hultgren, "Urinary Tract Infections: Epidemiology, Mechanisms of Infection and Treatment Options," Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 269-284, 2015, doi: 10.1038/nrmicro3432.

H. M. Nahab, M. Akeel Hamed Al-Oebady, and H. Aqeel Abdul Munem, "Bacteriological Study of Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Women in Al Samawa City of Iraq," Archives of Razi Institute, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 117-122, Feb. 28, 2022, doi: 10.22092/ARI.2021.356488.1830.

F. Bilir, N. Akdemir, S. Ozden, et al., "Increased Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Pregnant Patients With Asymptomatic Bacteriuria," Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, vol. 12, p. 25, Sep. 5, 2013, doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-12-25.

Y. Zhou, Z. Zhou, L. Zheng, et al., "Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli: Mechanisms of Infection and Treatment Options," International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 13, p. 10537, Jun. 23, 2023, doi: 10.3390/ijms241310537.

R. Barry, E. Houlihan, S. J. Knowles, et al., "Antenatal Pyelonephritis: A Three-Year Retrospective Cohort Study of Two Irish Maternity Centres," European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, vol. 42, no. 7, pp. 827-833, Jul. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s10096-023-04610-2.

J. H. Lee, B. Subhadra, Y. J. Son, et al., "Phylogenetic Group Distributions, Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance Properties of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated From Patients With Urinary Tract Infections in South Korea," Letters in Applied Microbiology, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 84-90, Jan. 2016, doi: 10.1111/lam.12517.

A. T. Tebabal, A. T. Yayehrad, E. A. Siraj, et al., "The Prevalence and Susceptibility Patterns of Uropathogens in a Private Teaching Hospital: A Six Years Retrospective Study at GAMBY Teaching Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia," Urologia, vol. 92, no. 3, pp. 493-502, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1177/03915603241272806.

K. Rusman, R. Sjahril, M. Hatta, et al., "Epidemiological Characteristics and Pathogen Profiles of Non-Escherichia Coli Gram-Negative Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Women: Insights From Makassar, Indonesia," Pan African Medical Journal, vol. 51, p. 46, Jun. 16, 2025, doi: 10.11604/pamj.2025.51.46.44678.

K. Grette, S. Cassity, N. Holliday, and B. H. Rimawi, "Acute Pyelonephritis During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Aetiology, Timing, and Reported Adverse Perinatal Risks During Pregnancy," Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 739-748, Aug. 2020, doi: 10.1080/01443615.2019.1654987.

C. Chatterton, R. Romero, E. Jung, et al., "A Biomarker for Bacteremia in Pregnant Women With Acute Pyelonephritis: Soluble Suppressor of Tumorigenicity 2 or sST2," Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 2183470, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2183470.

K. Ejrnæs, M. Stegger, A. Reisner, et al., "Characteristics of Escherichia Coli Causing Persistence or Relapse of Urinary Tract Infections: Phylogenetic Groups, Virulence Factors and Biofilm Formation," Virulence, vol. 2, no. 6, pp. 528-37, Nov.-Dec. 2011, doi: 10.4161/viru.2.6.18189.