Nursing strategies for the prevention of urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli in pregnant women in Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur due to the invasion of microorganisms that multiply in the urinary tract and adjoining organs, causing infectious processes that threaten health, especially during pregnancy where vaginal pH and hormonal changes are factors that favor the arrival of germs to the genital area from other nearby areas, such as Escherichia coli, a microorganism that migrates from the rectum to the female urinary tract.  Objective. The present work has the need to describe strategies applicable by the nursing professional to prevent urinary tract infections triggered by Escherichia coli in pregnant women. Methodology. Several bibliographic analyses of the following journals were conducted: Dialnet, SciELO, Scopus, PubMed, among others; and university repositories. To identify the studies, Boolean operators "AND" and "OR" were used combined with key terms Escherichia coli-pregnancy, urinary tract infections-Ecuador. We searched for full-text articles, undergraduate papers, and clinical practice guidelines from the years 2020-2024, with estimates of research published in the years 2013, 2017-2019. Results. Ecuador has a deficient protocol for the prevention of UTIs in pregnant women with basic measures that include health promotion and specific protection activities, conducted from the first level of care. Conclusion. The reduction in the prevalence of UTIs in Ecuador means constant updating and commitment of the professional to provide information on hygiene and eating habits, such as complying with biosecurity measures before direct care and providing timely chemical prophylaxis with antibiotics. General area of study: Nursing Specific area of study: Gynecological-obstetric nursing. Type of Study: Bibliographic review.