Skip navigation
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You U.S. National Library of MedicineNational Institutes of Health
Contact Us FAQs Site Map About MedlinePlus
español Home Health Topics Drugs & Supplements Medical Encyclopedia Dictionary News Directories Other Resources

 

Medical Encyclopedia

Other encyclopedia topics:  A-Ag  Ah-Ap  Aq-Az  B-Bk  Bl-Bz  C-Cg  Ch-Co  Cp-Cz  D-Di  Dj-Dz  E-Ep  Eq-Ez  F  G  H-Hf  Hg-Hz  I-In  Io-Iz  J  K  L-Ln  Lo-Lz  M-Mf  Mg-Mz  N  O  P-Pl  Pm-Pz  Q  R  S-Sh  Si-Sp  Sq-Sz  T-Tn  To-Tz  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  0-9 

Asymptomatic bacteriuria

Printer-friendly versionEmail this page to a friend
Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Male urinary system
Male urinary system
Vesicoureteral reflux
Vesicoureteral reflux

Definition    Return to top

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a significant number of bacteria in the urine that occurs without any of the usual symptoms (burning during urination or increased frequency of urination). Asympomatic bacteruria may not need treatment, which makes it different from a bacterial urinary tract infection.

Causes    Return to top

Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs in up to 6% of healthy individuals. It affects 18% of people with diabetes (mostly women), and 20% of elderly individuals (more often women than men). The reasons for the lack of symptoms are not well understood.

Most patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria do not need treatment because the bacteria isn't causing any harm. However, certain groups are at a higher risk for kidney infections if they develop asymptomatic bacteriuria. Those at risk include:

Symptoms    Return to top

By definition, asymptomatic bacteriuria causes no symptoms. The symptoms of a urinary tract infection include burning during urination, an increased urgency to urinate, and increased frequency of urination.

Exams and Tests    Return to top

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is detected by the discovery of significant bacterial growth in a urine culture taken from a urine sample.

Treatment    Return to top

Not all patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria respond to treatment or even need treatment. Pregnant women, kidney transplant recipients, children with vesicoureteral reflux, and people with infected kidney stones appear to be more likely to benefit from treatment with antibiotics.

In addition, if asymptomatic bacteriuria is found prior to a urological procedure, it should be treated to prevent complications of the procedure. The course of treatment in these cases depends on the person's risk factors.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Most individuals with asymptomatic bacteriuria who do not have risk factors for complications do extremely well, and do not have any increased rates of symptomatic infections or decrease in kidney function.

The prognosis for treatment in the high-risk group category is good if the infection is detected early, but the outlook depends on the person's underlying conditions or illnesses.

Possible Complications    Return to top

Individuals in high-risk groups have a significant risk of progressing to a true kidney infection if the bacteriuria is not treated. In certain cases, such as renal transplant recipients, kidney infection may lead to loss of kidney function.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

If you have been told you have asymptomatic bacteriuria and you are in a high-risk group for complications, notify your health care provider. Also, if you begin to develop fever, have difficulty emptying your bladder, feel pain with urination, or have flank or back pain -- notify your health care provider. You will need to be evaluated for a bladder or kidney infection.

Update Date: 5/26/2006

Updated by: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Logo

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.