The prevalence of urinary tract infections in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Microbiologic evidence of urinary tract infection was studied in 447 pregnant women with (n = 149) or without (control group, n = 298) gestational diabetes mellitus after mid-pregnancy. Laboratory investigations included chemical analysis, microscopic examination and culture of a clean midstream voided urine specimen. Nineteen women (4.2%) had asymptomatic bacteriuria (7 study, 12 control, P=0.7). Of these, 7 (38%) developed symptomatic infection despite treatment with antibiotics (2 study, 5 control, P=0.7) and 6 (31%) had recurrent bacteriuria later in pregnancy (3 study, 3 control, P=0.3). Twelve more women (2.6%) had symptomatic infection (5 study, 7 control, P=0.5), 7 had acute cystitis (3 study, 4 control, P=0.5) and 5 had acute pyelonephritis (2 study, 3 control, P=0.7). Escherichia coli was the commonest pathogen, accounting for 22 (71%) infection episodes. Gestational diabetes mellitus was not associated with increased risk of urinary tract infections nor of maternal and perinatal morbidity as a result of infection.