USPSTF Updates Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Screening Recommendations

The US Preventive Services Task Force has updated its guidance for the screening of pregnant women for asymptomatic bacteriuria, downgrading the strength of the recommendation from grade A to grade B.

This is the first change in the strength of the recommendation since the original 1996 recommendation, which was reaffirmed in 2004 and 2008. The change comes in response to new evidence showing significantly lower risk of pyelonephritis than that seen in previous reviews, which reduced the magnitude of benefit of screening.

For their update, the USPSTF commissioned a systematic evidence review evaluating the potential harms and benefits of screening for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Overall, they concluded with moderate certainty that screening for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant persons has moderate net benefit (grade B). However, they concluded with moderate certainty that screening for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in nonpregnant adults has no net benefit (grade D).

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Draft recommendation statement: asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults: screening U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. April 2019. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-recommendation-statement/asymptomatic-bacteriuria-in-adults-screening1