Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection and Its Association with Inflammatory Markers and Blood Pressure among Pregnant Women in Basrah, Iraq

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent one of the most prevalent bacterial complications during pregnancy, potentially leading to systemic inflammatory responses and cardiovascular alterations.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of culture-confirmed UTIs among pregnant women in Basrah, identify the causative bacterial species, and examine their association with C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and blood pressure (BP).Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2025 and January 2026 across four healthcare facilities in Basrah, enrolling 200 pregnant women. Bacterial isolates were identified using the VITEK® 2 system. Fifty culture-confirmed cases and 50 culture-negative controls were selected for comparative analysis, with inflammatory markers and blood pressure assessed using validated standard methods.Results: The overall prevalence of UTI was 25%. Gram-negative organisms predominated (68%), with Escherichia coli (42%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22%) being the most prevalent. CRP positivity was identical between both groups (36%; P = 1.000). Mean ESR was significantly elevated in infected women (45.62 vs. 35.44 mm/hr; P = 0.008). Diastolic BP was significantly higher in UTI cases (81.88 vs. 76.50 mmHg; P = 0.010), with no significant difference observed in systolic BP.Conclusions: One in four pregnant women had a culture-confirmed UTI. ESR demonstrated greater sensitivity than CRP as an inflammatory marker in this context. UTI was significantly associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure, emphasising the importance of routine monitoring of inflammatory and haemodynamic parameters within antenatal care programmes.