What causes positive nitrite in urine during pregnancy?
The presence of nitrites in urine most commonly means there’s a bacterial infection in your urinary tract. This is usually called a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can happen anywhere in your urinary tract, including your bladder, ureters, kidneys, and urethra.
Can a urine infection in pregnancy harm the baby?
UTIs do not pose any danger to a developing fetus, and the infection is usually asymptomatic during pregnancy (unlike the pain that usually occurs when you get one in a non-pregnant state). However, untreated UTIs can progress to kidney infections, which are far more serious.
How can I treat urine infection during pregnancy?
Most UTIs during pregnancy are treated with a course of antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that is pregnancy-safe but still effective in killing off bacteria in your body.
Are cephalexin safe in pregnancy?
Cephalexin. Cephalosporins are considered safe to use in pregnancy. However, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics (such as cephalosporins) should be avoided when a narrow spectrum antibiotic would be more appropriate.
Can a positive UTI test mean something else?
False positives may present if the urine specimen appears red due to any cause; for example, recent ingestion of common UTI pain relief medication containing phenazopyradine dye or contamination with menstrual fluid.
Can you have nitrites in urine without infection?
If there are nitrites in your urine, it may mean that you have a UTI. However, even if no nitrites are found, you still may have an infection, because bacteria don’t always change nitrates into nitrites.
What does a positive test for nitrites in urine mean?
What do the test results mean? A positive test for nitrites in the urine is called nitrituria. If you have nitrituria, your doctor will likely want to send your urine sample to a laboratory for a urine culture test. In a urine culture, your doctor can find out which specific type of bacteria are causing your UTI.
Is it bad to have nitrites in your urine?
Having nitrates in urine is normal and not harmful. However, having nitrites in your urine could mean you have an infection. What causes nitrites in urine? The presence of nitrites in urine most commonly means there’s a bacterial infection in your urinary tract.
What are the symptoms of bacteria in urine during pregnancy?
Malicious microorganisms can enter the urinary tract and kidneys by hematogenesis. Symptoms of bacteria in the urine during pregnancy are similar to manifestations of cystitis and pyelonephritis. The woman has a fever, there are frequent and painful urge to urinate, urine with sediment and cloudy.
Can a UTI cause high blood pressure during pregnancy?
UTIs are common in pregnancy and are dangerous. They can cause high blood pressure and premature delivery if left untreated. UTIs during pregnancy are also more likely to spread to the kidneys. How are nitrites in urine diagnosed?