Bacteriuria following vaginal delivery.

Vaginal delivery may predispose to bacteriuria, as it entails repeated vaginal examination, compression of the bladder and sometimes urethral catheterization. One hundred and forty pregnant women were studied. Three samples of urine were used for cultures; the first at start of labor, the second 24 h after labor, and the third 14 days later. Culture plates were examined for total colony count, which was multiplied by 10 to give an estimate of the number of organisms/ml. Type of organism was identified. Nine of 112 women (8%) developed bacteriuria for the first time after labor. Of these, premature rupture of membranes occurred in four, prolonged labor in two, and cervical and vaginal tears in two others. Detection and treatment of postpartum bacteriuria could decrease the incidence of urinary tract infection.