Diagnosis and importance of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults.

There are now laboratory means of screening and identifying people who, although they are free from the signs of urinary tract infection, fit into abnormal groups owing to the high numbers of bacteria and leukocytes in their urine. Chronic bacteriuria and pathologic pyuria, with or without symptoms, have important physiologic and pathologic consequences. It is the physicians opportunity to recognize and treat these asymptomatic as well as symtomatic urinary tract infections. If untreated and uncorrected the result, with progressive frequency over a period of 10-15 years, is increased morbidity, especially with pregnancies, structural damage to the kidneys, kidney stones, uremia, hypertension, and premature death.