Open Access Journal
QUALIS
B1
2021-2024
quadriênio
Open Access Journal
B1
2021-2024
quadriênio
Artigos | Vol. 4 Issue 5 (2026)
Published in September 21, 2026
Pregnancy is a period marked by physiological, hormonal, and immunological changes that increase vulnerability to infections. Urinary tract infection (UTI) stands out as the most common bacterial infection among pregnant women, affecting approximately 8% to 20% of this population, and is frequently caused by Escherichia coli and/or other gram-negative bacteria. This study aims to identify the main risk factors associated with UTI in pregnancy, as well as to highlight the importance of the nurse's role in early diagnosis and prevention of maternal-fetal complications. This is an integrative literature review, conducted in the PubMed, Science Direct, LILACS, and SciELO databases, including studies published between 2020 and 2026, in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The evidence points to an association between UTI and adverse obstetric outcomes, such as premature birth and low birth weight. These events are related to epidemiological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors, as well as comorbidities, physiological changes during pregnancy, and inappropriate use of antimicrobials. It is noteworthy that the absence of rational therapeutic management contributes to the worsening of the condition and to increased bacterial resistance. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy remain a significant public health problem, especially among women with comorbidities or risk factors. Therefore, strengthening screening, health education, and qualified prenatal care is essential for the prevention of maternal and neonatal complications.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Letícia Francisca do Nascimento Silva, Crislayne Tamires da Silva Soares, Rayane Oliveira Bezerra da Silva, Andriu dos Santos Catena
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7055-1479