ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA: CHANGE OF THE COMMON OPINION

Abstract

Over the last 50 years an approach to diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (BB) has changed. Previously bacteriuria was considered as a manifestation of an underlying pathology that must be identified and treated with antibiotics. However the accumulation and emergence of new scientific data to improve methods of research allowed understanding that the presence of BB in humans is not only harmful to health but rather on the contrary protects it from developing symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI). Currently, many researchers turned to the study of BB, having unique data, showing that understanding this issue can help uncover previously unknown pathogenetic, immunological and genetic mechanisms of development of IMP, the result of which will be obtained and new opportunities for effective treatment. This is particularly important in the era of ubiquitous increasing microbial resistance to antibiotics.

Keywords

• asymptomatic bacteriuria
• urinary tract infection
• acute cystitis
• pyelonephritis
• virulence factors
• e. coli