ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA
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Urine is normally sterile. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASBU) is a condition in which a significant number of bacteria appear in the urine, without the presence of typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli is the single most common cause of ASBU. ASBU is more common in elderly and its prevalence increase with age. ASBU has been slightly more common in black population. Screening for asymptomatic subjects is considered if bacteriuria is associated with preventable adverse outcomes such as symptomatic urinary infection, progression to chronic kidney disease or hypertension, development of urinary tract cancer, and decreased duration of survival. If left untreated ASBU normally cures on its own and active treatment is not required except in those who are pregnant, require renal transplantation or are supposed to undergo a urinary tract procedure. In patients who acquire ASBU early in their pregnancy, there is a minute chance of issues related to pregnancy like low birth weight etc or pyelonephritis. Most cases resolve postpartum. The diagnosis of bacteriuria in an asymptomatic individual is based on the culture results of urine collected in a manner that minimizes the possibility of contamination and limits the period between sampling and testing the specimen to avoid false positivity due to bacterial growth. Conditions that might require the ASBU to be treated are pregnancy, before transurethral prostatic resection, and renal transplant follow-up.