Imaging studies after a first febrile urinary tract infection in young children

Guidelines for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections in Children: A Review by the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND

Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) present a challenge to the clinician because of the variety in clinical syndromes included and consequent difficulties in synthesizing evidence. A harmonized definition of cUTI does not exist. In national guidelines, management recommendations for cUTI are often neglected. We aimed to define the four most important controversies and formulate management recommendations for cUTI in children and adolescents.

METHODS

The European Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Guideline Committee convened a working group of experts from microbiology, pediatric nephrology and infectious diseases with expertise in managing children with UTI. A comprehensive literature review was done using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library to find studies in children under 18 years published until December 2024. Four controversies were defined from experience and available evidence. Children with cUTI were categorized into 5 subgroups: anatomical/functional urological abnormalities, multiple UTI recurrences, severe clinical presentation, nonurological underlying conditions and neonates. Respective management guidelines were formulated through the evidence and by consensus of working group members. Recommendations were made using GRADE criteria.

RESULTS

The term cUTI is generally used to define children with UTI with an increased likelihood of failing conventional management. The included 5 subgroups are the most likely to need additional investigations at diagnosis and during the course of infection, initial intravenous antibiotics, longer treatment duration, antibiotic prophylaxis, follow-up imaging and surgical referral. These are detailed for each subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

These comprehensive guidelines offer evidence-graded recommendations specifically for pediatric cUTI, addressing gaps that exist in current guidelines.

Adherence to the Swedish paediatric guidelines for urinary tract infections

AIM

To audit adherence to the Swedish paediatric guidelines for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants. Secondary objectives were to compare findings on imaging performed according to the guidelines with imaging without guideline support and to identify predictors of non-adherence.

METHODS

A prospective multicentre study of infants <1 year treated at paediatric hospitals for their first UTI. Adherence to recommendations was assessed for diagnosis, treatment, and imaging of the urinary tract with a follow-up period of 1 year. Vesicoureteral reflux on voiding cystourethrography and findings on renal scintigraphy according to recommendations were compared to imaging without recommendation.

RESULTS

A total of 1357 infants were included. Adherence to recommended diagnostic procedures, antibiotic treatment, and imaging was 86.1%, 91.0% and 64.2%, respectively. Non-adherence to imaging recommendations was associated with inpatient management and smaller hospitals but was also more often due to excessive rather than refrained imaging.

CONCLUSION

High adherence rates to diagnostic and treatment recommendations indicate careful attention to infant UTI among paediatricians. Lower adherence to imaging recommendations raises concerns regarding the guideline algorithm; particularly, early DMSA scans seem to be challenging for smaller hospitals.

Abnormal Ultrasound Findings After a Urinary Tract Infection in Children

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of urinary tract abnormalities detected in the ultrasound screening of children after a urinary tract infection episode, regardless of their age.

METHODS

This cohort study included children aged 0-16 years who underwent urinary tract ultrasound screening after a urinary tract infection between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015 in a paediatric university hospital in Finland. We excluded children with previously diagnosed pathologies of the urinary tract.

RESULTS

A total of 2050 children were included in this study. Among these, 116 (5.7%, 95% confidence interval 4.7%-6.7%) children had an abnormal ultrasound. In children with pyelonephritis, 70% of the abnormal ultrasounds were found in children younger than 2 years old. Age younger than 2 years was not associated with an increased risk of abnormality (odds ratio: 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.65-1.52). Boys and children with non-Escherichia coli urinary tract infection or recurrent urinary tract infection were associated with a higher risk of having a urinary tract abnormality.

CONCLUSION

Limiting ultrasound screening after pyelonephritis to children under 2 years of age, as recommended in many current treatment guidelines, may miss a significant proportion (30%) of children with urinary tract abnormalities.

Practice Variation and Guideline Compliance in Urologic Imaging After Initial Urinary Tract Infection in Children

OBJECTIVE

To investigate practice pattern variability and drivers of imaging after febrile UTI (fUTI).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all children ≤6 years old presenting between 2012 and 2021 who presented in a variety of settings (outpatient, inpatient, emergency department [ED]) with diagnosis of first fUTI to a single freestanding children's hospital. Patients were excluded if no documented fever, no documented positive urine culture, or history of congenital urinary anomalies. The primary outcome was compliance with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines regarding genitourinary (GU) imaging after the first or second fUTI. Secondary outcomes were whether patients received GU imaging and the timing of voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Multivariate logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

Four hundred seventy-three patients met criteria with a median age of 11 months. Overall, adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines was 41%, with no significant increase in compliance over time. Sixty-four percent (306/473) underwent renal-bladder ultrasound (RBUS) after the first fUTI. Of those with abnormal RBUS, 57.1% (44/77) underwent VCUG. Six patients had a VCUG after initial fUTI but no RBUS. Of those with a second fUTI, 36.7% (18/49) underwent VCUG. Notably, 32% received no GU imaging. On multivariate analysis, compliance was associated with younger age (OR 0.98) and inpatient treatment (OR 2.97). The receipt of any imaging was associated with younger age (OR 0.98), female patients (OR 1.78), inpatient treatment (OR 4.98), and private insurance (OR 1.72).

CONCLUSION

Non-adherence to guidelines on imaging after febrile UTI remains high in the pediatric community, indicating significant potential for improvement.

Molecular analysis of acute pyelonephritis-excessive innate and attenuated adaptive immunity

This study investigated the molecular basis of disease severity in acute pyelonephritis (APN), a common and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. Two cohorts of infants with febrile urinary tract infection were included. Renal involvement was defined by DMSA scans and molecular disease determinants by gene expression analysis and proteomic screens, at diagnosis and after 6 mo. Innate immune hyper-activation, systemically and locally in the urinary tract, was defined as a cytokine storm. Neutrophil degranulation and renal toxicity genes were strongly regulated, with overexpression in the APN group (first DMSA+). Adaptive immune attenuation in the APN group further supported the notion of an immune imbalance. DNA exome genotyping identified APN and febrile urinary tract infection as genetically distinct and scarring associated genes, but the activation of renal toxicity genes during acute infection was unrelated to the development of renal scarring. The results define APN as a hyper-inflammatory disorder with the characteristics of a cytokine storm combined with adaptive immune attenuation. The findings are consistent with innate immune dysfunctions and neutrophil disorders identified as determinants of APN susceptibility in genetic models.

Adherence to urologic imaging guidelines after febrile urinary tract infection in infants

BACKGROUND

Timely imaging is recommended after febrile UTI (fUTI) in young children to identify treatable urologic conditions. The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guideline recommends renal bladder ultrasound (RBUS) after fUTI and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) after abnormal RBUS or second fUTI.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate practice pattern variability and associated factors in pediatric fUTI imaging in primary care clinics.

STUDY DESIGN

All children <24 months old with fUTI (temperature ≥38C, positive urinalysis, and >50,000 CFU on urine culture) in a large primary care network in a US Northeast state in 2019 were reviewed. Those with congenital genitourinary anomalies were excluded. We fitted a multivariable logistic regression model with a primary outcome of adherence to the AAP guideline.

RESULTS

In total we included118 patients with fUTI. Overall, post-UTI imaging was adherent to the AAP guideline in 82 cases (69.5 %, See Figure). Reasons for non-adherence were: no RBUS (N = 21), VCUG despite normal RBUS (N = 9), no VCUG after abnormal RBUS (N = 4), and no VCUG after a second fUTI (N = 2). In the multivariable logistic regression model, significant predictors of guideline adherence were commercial insurance (OR = 2.82, p = 0.047), more providers in the practice (OR = 1.38, p = 0.05), and younger provider age (OR = 0.96, p = 0.043) after adjusting for patient's age, sex, maximal temperature during fUTI.

DISCUSSION

Young children with fUTI received guideline-adherent imaging from their primary care clinician approximately 70 % of the time in this sample, though significant opportunities for improvement exist. Guideline adherence was more likely for commercially-insured patients, providers working in larger offices, and younger providers, suggesting both patient and provider characteristics impact the practice pattern.

CONCLUSION

We observed a wide variation of imaging ordering practice for fUTI in primary care clinic network. Further research may seek to examine reasons for non-adherence, thereby guiding efforts to improve it.

Infant urinary tract infection in Sweden - A national study of current diagnostic procedures, imaging and treatment

BACKGROUND

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants is a common, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection, and must be managed carefully through the entire chain of care from diagnosis, choice of treatment, follow-up and risk stratification of future complications. This Swedish nationwide study of infant UTI was conducted to evaluate the current management of infant UTI, yield of investigations and the Swedish UTI guidelines' ability to detect abnormalities of importance in the urinary tract.

METHODS

Infants < 1 year with a first episode of UTI were included in a prospective multicenter study. Treatment and follow-up were provided by local pediatricians. Clinical and laboratory findings and imaging results were reported to the coordinating center. The current management and results were compared with a previous Swedish study.

RESULTS

One thousand three hundred six infants were included. Urine sampling was performed with clean catch technique in 93% of patients. Initial oral antibiotic treatment was used in 63%, predominantly third generation cephalosporines. Permanent kidney abnormalities were found in 10% and dilating vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in 8%. Higher rates of male gender, non-E. coli infection and ultrasound dilatation were seen in infants < 1 month. UTI recurrences were reported in 18%.

CONCLUSIONS

Infant UTI is still generating a considerable amount of follow-up examinations. There is a significant shift towards clean catch as the main urine sampling method. Voiding cystourethrography is performed less frequently reducing the findings of low grade VUR. The incidence of renal scarring is comparable with earlier studies which suggests that the Swedish guidelines are able to identify individuals with risk for long-term complications.

Primary vesicoureteral reflux

Primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common urological abnormalities in infants and children. The association of VUR, urinary tract infection (UTI) and renal parenchymal damage is well established. The most serious complications of VUR-associated reflux nephropathy are hypertension and proteinuria with chronic kidney disease. Over the past two decades, our understanding of the natural history of VUR has improved, which has helped to identify patients at increased risk of both VUR and VUR-associated renal injury. The main goals in the treatment of paediatric patients with VUR are the prevention of recurrent UTIs and minimizing the risk of renal scarring and long-term renal impairment. Currently, there are four options for managing primary VUR in infants and children: surveillance or intermittent treatment of UTIs with management of bladder and bowel dysfunction; continuous antibiotic prophylaxis; endoscopic subureteral injection of tissue-augmenting substances; and ureteral reimplantation via open, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery. Current debates regarding key aspects of management include when to perform diagnostic imaging and how to best identify the paediatric patients that will benefit from continuous antibiotic prophylaxis or surgical intervention, including endoscopic injection therapy and minimally invasive ureteral reimplantation. Evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence, have the potential to assist clinicians in the decision-making process and in the individualization of diagnostic imaging and treatment of infants and children with VUR in the future.

Predictors of Abnormal Renal Ultrasonography in Children With Urinary Tract Infection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommended a renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS) after the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants. Abnormal RBUS findings may be due to inflammation from the acute UTI or from vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which may require a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) to diagnose, increasing health care costs. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of timing of imaging relative to the acute illness on abnormal dilation on RBUS and VCUG findings.

METHODS

Multicenter, retrospective study of patients aged 2 to 24 months presenting with first UTI and RBUS from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. Demographics, isolated pathogen, and timing of RBUS and VCUG relative to urine culture date were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 227 patients were included. On multivariable logistic regression, increased time in days to RBUS was associated with decreased odds of abnormal dilation (adjusted odds ratio, 0.980; P = .018) in those patients meeting culture criteria for UTI (for each additional day of delay in obtaining RBUS, the adjusted odds of detecting dilation decreased by ∼2%). There was no significant association between timing of imaging and VUR on VCUG. Additionally, 32% of patients underwent RBUS who did not meet UTI culture criteria but had similar rates of abnormal dilation and VUR to those meeting UTI culture criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased time to RBUS led to decreased odds of abnormal dilation, suggesting that delaying RBUS may lead to fewer false-positive results, which may limit unnecessary additional testing and reduce health care costs. Additionally, a significant number of patients who did not meet UTI culture criteria underwent RBUS but had similar results to those meeting criteria, suggesting that the previous colony-forming unit definition for UTI may be suboptimal.

Value of contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux

BACKGROUND

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the urinary tract and bladder (ceVUS) is an alternative examination method to micturition cysturethrography (MCU/VCUG) for suspected vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) that is increasing in practice. The purpose of this review is to present the current value of ceVUS in the diagnosis.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was performed using the keywords "vesicoureteral reflux", "ceVUS", "VCUG" of the databases MEDLINE and Cochrane Library as well as a review of current German, European, and American guidelines on this topic. In addition, recommendations for action in clinical practice were developed.

CONCLUSION

ceVUS is a quick-to-learn examination method that is equivalent to VCUG for the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux and should be used as the diagnostic method of first choice when available given the absence of radiation exposure.

KEY POINTS

· Like VCUG, ceVUS is the diagnostic method of first choice in suspected vesicoureteral reflux and should be used preferentially given the absence of radiation exposure.. · Especially in comparison to the alternative VCUG, ceVUS is a quick-to-learn examination method.. · ceVUS can also be used to diagnose other pathologies of the lower urinary tract..

CITATION FORMAT

· Conen P, Thiemann J, Stredele R et al. Value of contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; 196: 1022 - 1028.

Genetic determinants of renal scarring in children with febrile UTI

BACKGROUND

Febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most severe bacterial infections in infants, in which a subset of patients develops complications. Identifying infants at risk of recurrent infections or kidney damage based on clinical signs is challenging. Previous observations suggest that genetic factors influence UTI outcomes and could serve as predictors of disease severity. In this study, we conducted a nationwide survey of infant genotypes to develop a strategy for infection management based on individual genetic risk. Our aims were to identify genetic susceptibility variants for renal scarring (RS) and genetic host factors predisposing to dilating vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and recurrent UTIs.

METHODS

To assess genetic susceptibility, we collected and analyzed DNA from blood using exome genotyping. Disease-associated genetic variants were identified through bioinformatics analysis, including allelic frequency tests and odds ratio calculations. Kidney involvement was defined using dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy.

RESULTS

In this investigation, a cohort comprising 1087 infants presenting with their first episode of febrile UTI was included. Among this cohort, a subset of 137 infants who underwent DMSA scanning was subjected to gene association analysis. Remarkable genetic distinctions were observed between patients with RS and those exhibiting resolved kidney involvement. Notably, the genetic signature indicative of renal scarring prominently featured mitochondrial genes.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide study of genetic susceptibility to RS after febrile UTIs in infancy, we identified a profile dominated by mitochondrial polymorphisms. This profile can serve as a predictor of future complications, including RS and recurrent UTIs.

Comparison and clinical analysis of antibiotics and endoscopic injection for vesicoureteral reflux in children

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the outcome of pediatric patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and compared of the treatments between continued antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) and endoscopic injection.

METHODS

The clinical data of children diagnosed with primary vesicoureteral reflux from March 2015 to June 2020 who were treated with antibiotics or endoscopic injection were reviewed. Antibiotic was the first-chosen treatment after the diagnosis of VUR in children. Endoscopic treatment consisted of injection of dextran hyaluronic acid copolymer (DX/HA) into the ureteral opening under direct cystoscopy guidance.

RESULTS

Fifty-two children (35 males, 17 females) were included in this study, and for a total 90 ureters (14 unilateral, 38 bilateral) were diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux by Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). Twenty-two children were treated with antibiotics (8 unilateral, 14 bilateral), for a total of 36 ureters; thirty children were treated by endoscopic injection (6 unilateral, 24 bilateral), for a total of 54 ureters. The injection surgery took 36 ± 17 min including duration of general anesthesia and circumcision and the hospital stay was 2.3 ± 1.3 days. All male patients underwent circumcision simultaneously. There were no drug and allergic reactions in the antibiotic group, and no postoperative complications occurred in the injection group. With 23 months (13-63 months) of mean follow-up, the resolution rate, defined as radiological disappearance of VUR, was 36.1% (13/36) in the antibiotic group and 57.4% (31/54) in the injection group (P = 0.048).Two cases of bilateral reflux in the injection group required a second injection before resolution could be achieved. Thus, the overall success rate of injection was 64.8% (35/54). 9 cases (9/18, 50%) in the antibiotic group had renal scars on DMSA scans, while this was seen in 20 cases (20/23, 86.9%) in the injection group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.010).The positive rates of ultrasound between the antibiotic group and the injection group were 45.5% (10/22) and 80.0% (24/30), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in positive rates of ultrasound (P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic injection is easy to operate with short surgical time and hospital stay, so it is a safe and feasible treatment. For the treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children, the radiological resolution rate of endoscopic injection is better than antibiotic therapy. In this study, the presence of kidney scars on DMSA and the dilated of the collecting system on ultrasound are the indications for endoscopic injection.

Surgical management of high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in an 18-month-old female with a solitary kidney: A case report from a resource-limited setting

Key Clinical Message

Conservative nonsurgical therapy ensures that the resolution is nearly 80% for vesicoureteral reflux grades I and II and 30%-50% for vesicoureteral reflux grades III and V within 4-5 years of follow-up. Open surgical reimplantation of ureters of grades IV and V is a highly successful procedure, with reported correction rates ranging from 95% to 99% regardless of the severity of vesicoureteral reflux.

Abstract

Patients with vesicoureteral reflux present with a wide range of severity. With an incidence of approximately 1%, vesicoureteral reflux is a relatively common urological abnormality in children. Postnatal diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux is typically made following a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection and less frequently following family screening. Voiding cystourethrograms remain the gold standard for diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux. To preserve the kidney and prevent the need for potential renal replacement therapy, infants with a single kidney require significantly more assessments and prompt decision-making. Surgical correction is advised for patients with vesicoureteral reflux grades IV and V, while vesicoureteral reflux grades I, II, and III are managed conservatively.

Long-term consequences of urinary tract infection in childhood: an electronic population-based cohort study in Welsh primary and secondary care

BACKGROUND

Childhood urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause renal scarring, and possibly hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Previous studies have focused on selected populations, with severe illness or underlying risk factors. The risk for most children with UTI is unclear.

AIM

To examine the association between childhood UTI and outcomes in an unselected population of children.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective population-based cohort study using linked GP, hospital, and microbiology records in Wales, UK.

METHOD

Participants were all children born in 2005-2009, with follow-up until 31 December 2017. The exposure was microbiologically confirmed UTI before the age of 5 years. The key outcome measures were renal scarring, hypertension, CKD, and ESRF.

RESULTS

In total, 159 201 children were included; 77 524 (48.7%) were female and 7% (n = 11 099) had UTI before the age of 5 years. A total of 0.16% (n = 245) were diagnosed with renal scarring by the age of 7 years. Odds of renal scarring were higher in children by age 7 years with UTI (1.24%; adjusted odds ratio 4.60 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.33 to 6.35]). Mean follow-up was 9.53 years. Adjusted hazard ratios were: 1.44 (95% CI = 0.84 to 2.46) for hypertension; 1.67 (95% CI = 0.85 to 3.31) for CKD; and 1.16 (95% CI = 0.56 to 2.37) for ESRF.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of renal scarring in an unselected population of children with UTI is low. Without underlying risk factors, UTI is not associated with CKD, hypertension, or ESRF by the age of 10 years. Further research with systematic scanning of children's kidneys, including those with less severe UTI and without UTI, is needed to increase the certainty of these results, as most children are not scanned. Longer follow-up is needed to establish if UTI, without additional risk factors, is associated with hypertension, CKD, or ESRF later in life.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Urinary Tract Infection-Child: 2023 Update

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a frequent infection in childhood. The diagnosis is usually made by history and physical examination and confirmed by urine analysis. Cystitis is infection or inflammation confined to the bladder, whereas pyelonephritis is infection or inflammation of kidneys. Pyelonephritis can cause renal scarring, which is the most severe long-term sequela of UTI and can lead to accelerated nephrosclerosis, leading to hypertension and chronic renal failure. The role of imaging is to guide treatment by identifying patients who are at high risk to develop recurrent UTIs or renal scarring. This document provides initial imaging guidelines for children presenting with first febrile UTI with appropriate response to medical management, atypical or recurrent febrile UTI, and follow-up imaging for children with established vesicoureteral reflux. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Urinary Tract Infections in Children

Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the evaluation, treatment, and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs), UTI diagnosis and management remains challenging for clinicians. Challenges with acute UTI management stem from vague presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic uncertainty, limitations in laboratory testing, and selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy in an era with increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant uropathogens. Recurrent UTI management remains difficult due to an incomplete understanding of the factors contributing to UTI, when to assess a child with repeated infections for kidney and urinary tract anomalies, and limited prevention strategies. To help reduce these uncertainties, this review provides a comprehensive overview of UTI epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies that may help pediatricians overcome the challenges associated with acute and recurrent UTI management.

Urinary tract infections in very premature neonates: the definition dilemma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Data on urinary tract infections (UTIs) in very preterm neonates (VPTNs) are scarce. We aimed to (i) describe the characteristics of UTIs in VPTNs and (ii) compare the diagnostic practices of neonatal clinicians to established pediatric guidelines.

METHODS

All VPTNs (<29 weeks GA) with a suspected UTI at the CHU Sainte-Justine neonatal intensive care unit from January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019, were included and divided into two definition categories: Possible UTI, and Definite UTI.

RESULTS

Most episodes were Possible UTI (87%). Symptoms of UTIs and pathogens varied based on the definition category. A positive urinalysis was obtained in 25%. Possible UTI episodes grew 2 organisms in 62% of cases and <50,000 CFU/mL in 62% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Characteristics of UTIs in VPTNs vary based on the definition category and case definitions used by clinicians differ from that of established pediatric guidelines.

Pattern of urinary tract infection in children with vesicoureteric reflux: Does breastfeeding reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infection?

Introduction

The protective factors against urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the setting of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) remain poorly defined. Breastfeeding was suggested as a protective factor against UTI, but its role remains undetermined in this highly susceptible population.

Objectives

The objective of the study was to identify the pattern and risk factors of UTI and investigate the effect of breastfeeding on UTI occurrence in VUR children.

Materials and Methods

This was a mixed-method design, whereby the first part was a cross-sectional study that included children who were diagnosed with VUR and were assessed for their UTI pattern. The second part was a case-control study, which involved contacting the mothers of the children enrolled and questioning them about their breastfeeding pattern, and UTI development was assessed.

Results

Our study included 62 children with a median age of 4.4 (interquartile range = 21) months at diagnosis. Of those, 37 (60%) were male and 25 (40%) were female. Most UTIs occurred in the first 3 months of life, and the first episodes were more frequent in males. Constipation was significantly associated with the occurrence of UTI (relative risk [RR] =1.750 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.231-2.489], P = 0.003). Children with breakthrough UTIs were more likely to have been breastfed for <9 months (odds ratio [OR] = 4.091 [95% CI: 1.287-13.002], P = 0.015) and to have been exclusively breastfed for <2 months (OR = 4.600 [95% CI: 1.337-15.823], P = 0.012).

Conclusion

Children with VUR are more susceptible to UTIs in their 1st year of life. Constipation is a major risk factor for UTI occurrence in VUR children and should be aggressively managed. Breastfeeding for longer durations showed promising protective features against breakthrough UTIs.

Effectiveness of various treatment modalities in children with vesicoureteral reflux grades II-IV: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) among children. Various treatment modalities including antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical or endoscopic corrections and conservative treatment were used depending on the severity of VUR. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of these treatment modalities in children with VUR grades II-IV by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search from different databases was performed from their earliest records to December 2022 without any language restriction. Only randomised controlled trials were included in this study. Effectiveness of treatment modalities was mainly compared by UTI. Other outcomes for renal scarring and resolution by renal units were also measured between treatments.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies with 1447 children were included in this study. While comparing with antibiotic prophylaxis in network meta-analysis for UTI recurrence, surgical treatment probably lowers the rate of UTI recurrence (Log OR -0.26, 95% CI -0.54 to 0.02, high quality). However, endoscopic treatment (Log OR 0.2, 95% CI -1.41 to 1.81, high quality) and conservative treatment (Log OR 0.15, 95% CI -0.45 to 0.75, high quality) revealed probably inferior to antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Both pairwise and network meta-analytic results probably showed no difference between the treatments in terms of their impact on UTI recurrence, progression of previous renal scars, or formation of new renal scars in children with VUR grades II-IV. These findings may offer a better understanding of each treatment and evidence-based suggestions for the choice of treatment, which should be individualised and based on the patient's risk factors.

Kidney Ultrasonography After First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Controversy exists on the clinical utility of kidney ultrasonography after first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), and clinical practice guideline recommendations vary.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of urinary tract abnormalities detected on kidney ultrasonography after the first febrile UTI in children.

Data Sources

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for articles published from January 1, 2000, to September 20, 2022.

Study Selection

Studies of children with first febrile UTI reporting kidney ultrasonography findings.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts for eligibility. Study characteristics and outcomes were extracted from each article. Data on the prevalence of kidney ultrasonography abnormalities were pooled using a random-effects model.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was prevalence of urinary tract abnormalities and clinically important abnormalities (those that changed clinical management) detected on kidney ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes included the urinary tract abnormalities detected, surgical intervention, health care utilization, and parent-reported outcomes.

Results

Twenty-nine studies were included, with a total of 9170 children. Of the 27 studies that reported participant sex, the median percentage of males was 60% (range, 11%-80%). The prevalence of abnormalities detected on renal ultrasonography was 22.1% (95% CI, 16.8-27.9; I2 = 98%; 29 studies, all ages) and 21.9% (95% CI, 14.7-30.1; I2 = 98%; 15 studies, age <24 months). The prevalence of clinically important abnormalities was 3.1% (95% CI, 0.3-8.1; I2 = 96%; 8 studies, all ages) and 4.5% (95% CI, 0.5-12.0; I2 = 97%; 5 studies, age <24 months). Study recruitment bias was associated with a higher prevalence of abnormalities. The most common findings detected were hydronephrosis, pelviectasis, and dilated ureter. Urinary tract obstruction was identified in 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1-0.8; I2 = 59%; 12 studies), and surgical intervention occurred in 1.4% (95% CI, 0.5-2.7; I2 = 85%; 13 studies). One study reported health care utilization. No study reported parent-reported outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results suggest that 1 in 4 to 5 children with first febrile UTI will have a urinary tract abnormality detected on kidney ultrasonography and 1 in 32 will have an abnormality that changes clinical management. Given the considerable study heterogeneity and lack of comprehensive outcome measurement, well-designed prospective longitudinal studies are needed to fully evaluate the clinical utility of kidney ultrasonography after first febrile UTI.

Urethral discharge as an early manifestation of urinary tract infection in children ≤24 months old

Background

Children with febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prone to kidney scarring if they are not treated promptly; however, ambiguous symptoms before fever onset makes the early detection of UTIs difficult. Our study aimed to identify urethral discharge as an early manifestation in children with UTI.

Methods

This study enrolled 678 children younger than 24 months with paired urinalysis and culture performed between 2015 and 2021; 544 children were diagnosed with UTIs. Clinical symptoms, urinalysis, and paired urine culture results were compared.

Results

Urethral discharge was observed in 5.1% of children with UTI and yielded a specificity of 92.5% for diagnosing UTI. Children with urethral discharge had a less severe UTI course, furthermore, nine of them received antibiotics before fever occurred and seven of them were free of fever during UTI course. Urethral discharge was associated with alkalotic urine and Klebsiella pneumonia infection.

Conclusions

Urethral discharge is an early symptom in children with UTI; it may present before fever onset and help ensure prompt antibiotic intervention.

Diagnostic and therapeutic management of vesico-ureteral reflux in pediatric kidney transplantation-Results of an online survey on behalf of the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology

BACKGROUND

Vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) is considered to be a risk factor for recurrent febrile urinary tract infections and impaired renal transplant survival.

METHODS

An online survey supported by the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology was designed to evaluate current management strategies of VUR in native and transplanted kidneys of recipients aged <18 years.

RESULTS

Seventy-three pediatric transplant centers from 32 countries contributed to the survey. All centers performed urological evaluation prior to pediatric kidney transplantation (KTx) with subsequent interdisciplinary discussion. Screening for VUR in native kidneys (30% in all, 70% in selected patients) led to surgical intervention in 78% (11% in all, 89% in selected patients) with a decided preference of endoscopic intervention over ureterocystoneostomy. Following KTx, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis was applied in 65% of the patients and screening for allograft VUR performed in 93% of selected patients. The main management strategies of symptomatic allograft VUR were continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (83%) and surgical treatment (74%) (endoscopic intervention 55%, redo ureterocystoneostomy 26%).

CONCLUSIONS

This survey demonstrates the high variability in the management of VUR in pediatric KTx recipients, points to knowledge gaps, and might serve as a starting point for improving the care for patients with VUR in native and transplanted kidneys.

Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in Children: The Role of High Mobility Group Box-1

BACKGROUND

Differentiating between febrile lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) and acute pyelonephritis (APN) is crucial for prompt clinical management. We investigated whether the high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) could be a useful biomarker in differentiating between LUTI or APN.

METHODS

We enrolled seventy-four pediatric patients with suspected LUTI/APN, according to the positive or negative renal scintigraphy (DMSA) scan. If the first DMSA findings were abnormal, a second DMSA was performed after six months. Voiding cystourethrography ruled out vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

RESULTS

Higher serum (s) HMGB1 levels characterized the APN group when compared to LUTI patients (13.3 (11.8-14.3) versus 5.9 (5.2-6.8) ng/mL, p: 0.02), whereas there were no differences according to urine (u) HMGB1 values. sHMGB1 correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (β = 0.47; p: 0.02). Receiver operating characteristic curves identified the best diagnostic profile for detecting APN. sHMGB1 area under the curve was different from CRP (p: 0.01) and white blood cells (p: 0.003). After multivariate analyses, VUR (HR:4.81) and sHMGB1 (HR 1.16; p: 0.006) were independently associated with the risk of renal scarring development.

CONCLUSIONS

sHMGB1 could represent a marker to differentiate APN from LUTI. Measurement of sHMGB1 could select children for early intervention or long-term follow-up.

Imaging Practices and Implications in Young Infants With Urinary Tract Infection

OBJECTIVES

Management of infants aged ≤60 days with urinary tract infections (UTI) is challenging. We examined renal imaging in infants aged ≤60 days with UTI at a tertiary care children's hospital to identify the impact of standardizing renal ultrasound (RUS) interpretation.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied infants aged ≤60 days hospitalized for UTI or fever with urine culture and renal imaging obtained and final diagnosis of UTI. RUS initially had noncriterion-based (NCB) interpretation by experienced pediatric radiologists. For this study, a single pediatric radiologist used a criterion-based (CB) hydronephrosis grading system to reinterpret films initially classified as "abnormal" on the NCB reading. We compared final renal imaging results between NCB and CB groups.

RESULTS

Of 193 infants, 180 (93%) had inpatient RUS with 114 (63%) abnormal NCB interpretation. Of those with initially abnormal NCB interpretation, 85 OF 114 (75%) had minor and 29 OF 114 (25%) had significant abnormality by CB reinterpretation. In follow-up, the CB "minor abnormality" group showed 25% abnormal renal imaging, whereas the "significant abnormality" group showed 77% abnormal renal imaging with 54% having high-grade reflux on a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Patients with CB inpatient RUS minor abnormality showed 3% abnormal RUS at follow-up, but 13% showed high-grade reflux on VCUG.

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized RUS interpretation in young infants with UTI improved the accuracy of identification of abnormalities on follow-up renal imaging. In patients with CB minor abnormality on inpatient RUS, our results suggest limited utility of follow-up RUS; however, follow-up VCUG remained useful to identify high-grade reflux.

Renal scars in children with febrile urinary tract infection - Looking for associated factors

INTRODUCTION

Febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood infection related to renal scarring and potentially long-term complications like chronic kidney disease. It would be of great benefit to find a correlation between easy-accessible factors in the acute phase of a febrile UTI and the development of renal scar formation and/or decreased renal function in order to identify children at risk of future complications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the development of decreased split renal function (DSRF) and/or permanent renal scar formation in children with febrile UTI.

STUDY DESIGN

The medical records of 212 Children aged 0 months to 15 years with febrile UTI admitted to The Pediatric Department of Lillebaelt Hospital, Kolding from January 2011 to September 2014 were systematically reviewed. We analyzed clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with renal scar formation and DSRF on nuclear imaging at 6 months follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 113 medical records were eligible for further analysis, 99 girls and 14 boys, 34 patients younger than 12 months. In total 30 patients (26.5%) had an abnormal follow-up imaging (DSRF less than 45% and/or renal scarring). Nine patients (8%) had renal scarring. Four patients (3.5%) had renal scarring only, 21 patients (18.6%) had DSRF only, and five patients (4.4%) had both renal scarring and DSRF. Patients with renal scar formation on follow-up imaging had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) than patients with no scarring (p < 0.01). CRP and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was significantly higher in patients with abnormal follow-up imaging (p < 0.01 and p = 0.010), and these patients more often had positive nitrite in urine dipstick compared to patients with normal kidneys on follow-up (p = 0.048). Temperature above 38.5 °C and CRP >50 mg/L in combination were also associated with a higher risk of abnormal follow-up imaging (p = 0.016).

DISCUSSION

This study contributes with further knowledge to the ongoing debate regarding renal scarring but also reveals the possibility of associated factors for the development of DSRF following a febrile UTI in children. However, due to the retrospective design as well as the small number of events in our study definite conclusions on whether the above-mentioned factors are indeed prognostic for the development of renal scarring or DSRF following a febrile UTI can not be drawn.

Noncancerous Genitourinary Conditions as a Public Health Priority: Conceptualizing the Hidden Burden

OBJECTIVE

To provide a conceptual framework to guide investigations into burdens of noncancerous genitourinary conditions (NCGUCs), which are extensive and poorly understood.

METHODS

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened a workshop of diverse, interdisciplinary researchers and health professionals to identify known and hidden burdens of NCGUCs that must be measured to estimate the comprehensive burden. Following the meeting, a subgroup of attendees (authors of this article) continued to meet to conceptualize burden.

RESULTS

The Hidden Burden of Noncancerous Genitourinary Conditions Framework includes impacts across multiple levels of well-being and social ecology, including individual (ie, biologic factors, lived experience, behaviors), interpersonal (eg, romantic partners, family members), organizational/institutional (eg, schools, workplaces), community (eg, public restroom infrastructure), societal (eg, health care and insurance systems, national workforce/economic output), and ecosystem (eg, landfill waste) effects. The framework acknowledges that NCGUCs can be a manifestation of underlying biological dysfunction, while also leading to biological impacts (generation and exacerbation of health conditions, treatment side effects).

CONCLUSION

NCGUCs confer a large, poorly understood burden to individuals and society. An evidence-base to describe the comprehensive burden is needed. Measurement of NCGUC burdens should incorporate multiple levels of well-being and social ecology, a life course perspective, and potential interactions between NCGUCs and genetics, sex, race, and gender. This approach would elucidate accumulated impacts and potential health inequities in experienced burdens. Uncovering the hidden burden of NCGUCs may draw attention and resources (eg, new research and improved treatments) to this important domain of health.

Nomogram for diagnosing acute pyelonephritis in pediatric urinary tract infection

BACKGROUND

For risk stratification and individualized treatment for children with urinary tract infection (UTI), they must be assessed for the presence of acute pyelonephritis (APN). Our study aimed to combine variables that can predict APN and establish a nomogram for clinical use.

METHODS

In total, 111 children <5 years old hospitalized at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital for UTI were classified into APN and simple UTI groups based on a technetium-99 m dimercaptosuccinic acid scan. Their demographic, laboratory test, and renal and urinary bladder sonography (RUBS) data were compared.

RESULTS

Fever peak of >39 °C, serum procalcitonin (PCT) ≥ 0.52 pg/mL, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 2.86 mg/dL, and abnormal RUBS findings were independent variables for predicting APN in children. The nomogram established using the aforementioned variables had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.89, which was higher than those of PCT and CRP alone (0.776 and 0.774, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The combination of four variables had the highest power in predicting APN in children with UTI. The established nomogram is practical for clinical use.

Ultrasonography Results in First Urinary Tract Infection During Childhood: Which Age Group Should Be Screened?

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency of urinary system anomaly in children aged 0-18 y suffering from first urinary tract infection (UTI) and to establish which age group requires urinary ultrasonography (USG) screening.

METHODS

Age and gender, urine culture, urinary USG, and urological imaging results among 247 children in the 0-18 y age group with a first diagnosis of UTI were investigated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Anomaly was detected at USG in 68 (27.5%) of the 247 patients suffering from first UTI. The most common anomaly was hydronephrosis. Non-E. coli micro-organisms were the pathogenic agents in 61.8% of patients with anomalies detected at USG. Being in the 0-5 y age group (OR: 0.524, 95% CI 0.284-0.970, p = 0.040) and presence of atypical UTI (OR: 4.746, 95% CI: 1.675-13.450, p = 0.003) emerged as independent predictive markers of severe urinary system pathologies on multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Based on the data in the present study, routine USG screening is recommended for children suffering from first UTI under the age of 5 y and for the children suffering from atypical UTI at all ages.

The Influence of Non-E. Coli or Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Bacterial Growth on the Follow-Up Procedure of Infants with the First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of non-E. coli or extended-spectrum β-lactamase-positive (ESBL-positive) microorganism growth in the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) of infants on laboratory findings or renal parenchymal damage presenting the severity of inflammation, anatomic abnormalities defined by imaging studies, and recurrent UTIs in the follow-up period.

METHODS

The data of patients aged between 2 and 24 mo and followed up for at least 6 mo with febrile UTI guideline of the authors' pediatric-nephrology clinic, were retrospectively analyzed. Ultrasonography was performed in all the cases at the time of UTI and dimercaptosuccinic-acid (DMSA) at least 4 mo after the infection. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) was performed only if ultrasonography findings were abnormal, the uptake deformity was detected in DMSA scan, or the patients experienced recurrent UTIs. The patients were grouped concerning E. coli or non-E. coli and ESBL-PB or non-ESBL-BP growth in the urine cultures.

RESULTS

There were 277 infants followed up for 28.55 ± 15.24 (6-86) mo. The causative microorganisms were non-E. coli in 73 (26.4%) and ESBL-PB in 58 (20.9%) cases. CRP values, pyuria, and leukocyte-esterase positivity were significantly higher in UTIs caused by E. coli compared to non-E. coli bacteria. All clinical and laboratory findings were similar between the ESBL-PB and non-ESBL groups, but abnormal ultrasonography findings were more common in non-E. coli group.

CONCLUSION

E. coli causes more severe inflammation, but non-E. coli infections are more frequently associated with ultrasound abnormalities. However, ESBL production did not affect either laboratory or radiological findings in the present cohort.

Predicting factors of clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infection among 2- to 24-month-old children

AIM

To find more effective criteria to identify clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infection among children.

METHODS

Children aged 2-24 months with an initial urinary tract infection were consecutively recruited in a Japanese hospital from 2013 to 2019. Voiding cystourethrography, 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid scan and ultrasound were intended to perform for all cases. Clinically significant urological anomalies were defined as high-grade vesicoureteral reflux, obstructive and abnormal urinary tract lesions, need for surgical intervention, renal hypoplasia and scarring. Using classification and regression tree analysis, we sought the associated factors. We developed new criteria with these factors, retrospectively applied them to the original data, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-seven patients were eligible, and 39 had clinically significant urological anomalies. Classification and regression tree analysis showed that the associated factors were non-E. coli infections, serum creatinine levels and ultrasound abnormalities. When the gold standards were performed on children with non-E. coli infections or serum creatinine levels ≥0.21 mg/dl, sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 and 0.68, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The criteria including non-E. coli infections and high-normal or higher serum creatinine levels may efficiently predict clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infections.

The prevalence of familial vesicoureteric reflux in infants with normal antenatal scans

AIM

To determine the prevalence of familial vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) by studying the outcomes of screening in a contemporary cohort of newborns with normal antenatal kidney scans.

METHODS

A review of screening outcomes in newborns with a first degree relative with VUR, normal antenatal scans and no prior urine infections between 2014-2019 at three maternity units in the North East of England was conducted. Imaging consisted of micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) in all and renal tract ultrasound scan (RUS) routinely in two units and by clinician preference in one unit.

RESULTS

At a median age of 59 days, 265 infants underwent MCUG. High-grade VUR (Grades 3-5) was detected in 13 (4.9%) and low-grade VUR (Grades 1-2) in 24 (9.1%). In the 152 infants who had a RUS, abnormalities were detected in 21 (13.8%). An abnormal postnatal RUS has a low positive predictive value (14.3%) for high-grade VUR, but a normal RUS has a high negative predictive value (95.4%).

CONCLUSION

Compared to historical cohorts from two decades ago, the yield from familial VUR screening is low and unjustifiable in the setting of normal antenatal anomaly scans.

Contemporary Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Children

Purpose of Review

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children is a major source of office visits and healthcare expenditure. Research into the diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of UTI has evolved over the past 10 years. The development of new imaging techniques and UTI screening tools has improved our diagnostic accuracy tremendously. Identifying who to treat is imperative as the increase in multi-drug-resistant organisms has emphasized the need for antibiotic stewardship. This review covers the contemporary management of children with UTI and the data-driven paradigm shifts that have been implemented into clinical practice.

Recent Findings

With recent data illustrating the self-limiting nature and low prevalence of clinically significant vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), investigational imaging in children has become increasingly less frequent. Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonogram (CEVUS) has emerged as a useful diagnostic tool, as it can provide accurate detection of VUR without the need of radiation. The urinary and intestinal microbiomes are being investigated as potential therapeutic drug targets, as children with recurrent UTIs have significant alterations in bacterial proliferation. Use of adjunctive corticosteroids in children with pyelonephritis may decrease the risk of renal scarring and progressive renal insufficiency. The development of a vaccine against an antigen present on Escherichia coli may change the way we treat children with recurrent UTIs.

Summary

The American Academy of Pediatrics defines a UTI as the presence of at least 50,000 CFU/mL of a single uropathogen obtained by bladder catheterization with a dipstick urinalysis positive for leukocyte esterase (LE) or WBC present on urine microscopy. UTIs are more common in females, with uncircumcised males having the highest risk in the first year of life. E. coli is the most frequently cultured organism in UTI diagnoses and multi-drug-resistant strains are becoming more common. Diagnosis should be confirmed with an uncontaminated urine specimen, obtained from mid-stream collection, bladder catheterization, or suprapubic aspiration. Patients meeting criteria for imaging should undergo a renal and bladder ultrasound, with further investigational imaging based on results of ultrasound or clinical history. Continuous antibiotic prophylaxis is controversial; however, evidence shows patients with high-grade VUR and bladder and bowel dysfunction retain the most benefit. Open surgical repair of reflux is the gold standard for patients who fail medical management with endoscopic approaches available for select populations.

Urologic Considerations in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease

Common causes of pediatric ESRD are distinct from those seen in the adult population. In the pediatric population, the most common are congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), affecting approximately 30% of children with CKD. These structural anomalies often require coordinated care with the pediatric urology team to address voiding issues, bladder involvement, and the potential need for surgical intervention. For pediatric nephrologists and urologists, common CAKUT that are encountered include antenatal hydronephrosis, obstructive uropathies (eg, posterior urethral valves), and vesicoureteral reflux. As more pediatric patients with CAKUT, CKD, and ESRD transition to adult care, it is important for receiving adult nephrologists to understand the clinical presentation, natural history, and prognosis for these diagnoses. This review outlines the diagnosis and potential interventions for these conditions, including strategies to address bladder dysfunction that is often seen in children with CAKUT. A discussion of these management decisions (including surgical intervention) for CAKUT, which are quite common to pediatric nephrology and urology practices, may provide unique learning opportunities for adult nephrologists who lack familiarity with these pediatric conditions.

Examination of Complementary Medicine for Treating Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Women and Children

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant clinical problem that pregnant women and children commonly experience. Escherichia coli is the primary causative organism, along with several other gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrobial drugs are commonly prescribed to treat UTIs in these patients. Conventional treatment can range from using broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs for empirical or prophylactic therapy or patient-tailored therapy based on urinary cultures and sensitivity to prospective antibiotics. The ongoing emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens has raised concerns related to commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs such as those used routinely to treat UTIs. Consequently, several natural medicines have been explored as potential complementary therapies to improve health outcomes in patients with UTIs. This review discusses the effectiveness of commonly used natural products such as cranberry juice/extracts, ascorbic acid, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and multi-component formulations intended to treat and prevent UTIs. The combination of natural products with prescribed antimicrobial treatments and use of formulations that contained high amounts of cranberry extracts appear to be most effective in preventing recurrent UTIs (RUTIs). The incorporation of natural products like cranberry, hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid, probiotics, Canephron® N, and Cystenium II to conventional treatments of acute UTIs or as a prophylactic regimen for treatment RUTIs can benefit both pregnant women and children. Limited information is available on the safety of natural products in these patients' populations. However, based on limited historical information, these remedies appear to be safe and well-tolerated by patients.

Correlation of Renal Scarring to Urinary Tract Infections and Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children

Objective

To study the association of the grade of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and urinary tract infections (UTI) with renal scarring at the first clinical presentation of patients who underwent antireflux surgery. Materials and methods. Between 2015 and 2020, 150 patients (194 units) who underwent antireflux surgery had dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scans preoperatively. Patients were classified into the nonscar and scar groups according to DMSA scan results. Moreover, cases were classified into afebrile UTI, febrile UTI, and antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) according to the mode of presentation. We correlated the mode of presentation and the grade of VUR to the presence/absence of renal scars in both groups.

Results

The mean follow-up was 45 months preoperatively. The mode of presentation was afebrile, febrile UTIs, and antenatal hydronephrosis in (50, 14), (20, 46), and (10, 10) patients in the nonscar and scar groups, respectively. Of the 20 patients who presented ANH, 10 (50%) had scars. Clinical presentation was correlated to the presence of renal scarring and its degree. The scar group had significantly higher grades of VUR than the nonscar group (grades I–II (50 units versus 10 units), grade III (28 units versus 40 units), and grade IV–V (22 units versus 44 units) for the nonscar versus scar groups, respectively (pvalue <0.001).

Conclusion

Renal scarring is associated with higher grades of reflux and urinary tract infections. We advocate further research investigating infants who had UTIs with or without fever for early detection of reflux.

Risk Factors for the Development of Febrile Recurrences in Children with a History of Urinary Tract Infection

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for febrile recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children with a history of UTI.

STUDY DESIGN

We included 500 children aged 2-72 months with a history of UTI who were followed prospectively for approximately 2 years in the context of 2 previously conducted studies (Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux and Careful Urinary Tract Infection Evaluation). We identified significant risk factors for febrile recurrences among children not receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULT

On univariate analysis, non-Black race, febrile index UTI, bowel-bladder dysfunction, grade IV vesicoureteral reflux, renal scarring at baseline, and renal-bladder ultrasound abnormalities were associated with febrile recurrence. On multivariate analysis, the following variables independently increased the odds of febrile recurrences (OR; 95% CI): non-Black race (7.1; 1.5-127.9), bowel-bladder dysfunction (2.6; 1.1-5.3), febrile index UTI (2.5; 1.1-6.9), abnormalities on renal-bladder ultrasound scan (2.6; 1.2-5.6), grade IV vesicoureteral reflux (3.9; 1.4-10.5), and renal scarring at baseline (4.7; 1.2-19.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-Black race and grade IV vesicoureteral reflux increased the odds of febrile recurrence of UTI. Although our findings should stimulate other studies to further explore the relationship between race and UTIs, given that the link between race and UTI recurrence is unclear, race should not be used to make decisions regarding management of children with a UTI.

Urinary tract infections in children: Testing a novel, noninvasive, point-of-care diagnostic marker

OBJECTIVES

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) appears highly accurate to identify urinary tract infections (UTIs) when obtained via catheterization. Our primary aim was to determine the agreement in uNGAL levels between paired catheter and bag urine specimens. Our secondary aim was to compare the diagnostic test characteristics of quantitative uNGAL, dipstick uNGAL (a potential point-of-care test), and urinalysis (UA).

METHODS

This was a prospective study of febrile children < 24 months evaluated for UTIs. We evaluated quantitative uNGAL at a previously identified threshold of 39.1 ng/mL, dipstick uNGAL at its built-in threshold of >50 ng/mL, and UA at standard thresholds for leukocyte esterase (LE). A positive urine culture was defined as >100,000 CFUs/mL of a pathogen.

RESULTS

A total of 211 patients were included (10% with positive urine cultures); 116 had paired catheterized and bagged samples. The agreement between catheterized and bagged samples at a quantitative uNGAL cutoff of ≥39.1 ng/mL was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.67 to 0.83) and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.68 to 0.84) at a uNGAL dipstick threshold of >50 ng/mL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for uNGAL from a catheterized sample was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.89 to 1.00) compared to 0.93 (95% CI = 0.87 to -0.99) from a bagged sample. The sensitivities of catheterized sample quantitative and dipstick uNGAL (90.5%) were higher than UA at a LE threshold of ≥1+ (57.1%). Bagged-sample uNGAL had lower quantitative and dipstick specificities (both 73.8%) than from catheterized samples (94.3% and 95.3% respectively), similar to UA.

CONCLUSIONS

uNGAL from bagged and catheterized samples showed insufficient agreement to be used interchangeably. The low specificity of uNGAL from bagged samples suggests that sampling technique affects uNGAL levels.

Innate Bacteriostatic Mechanisms Defend the Urinary Tract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common type of urogenital disease. UTI affects the urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidney. A total of 13.3% of women, 2.3% of men, and 3.4% of children in the United States will require treatment for UTI. Traditionally, bladder (cystitis) and kidney (pyelonephritis) infections are considered independently. However, both infections induce host defenses that are either shared or coordinated across the urinary tract. Here, we review the chemical and biophysical mechanisms of bacteriostasis, which limit the duration and severity of the illness. Urinary bacteria attempt to overcome each of these defenses, complicating description of the natural history of UTI.

Short Intravenous Antibiotic Courses for Urinary Infections in Young Infants: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in young infants, yet there is no guidance on the optimal duration of intravenous (IV) treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if shorter IV antibiotic courses (≤7 days) are appropriate for managing UTIs in infants aged ≤90 days.

METHODS

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase (February 2021) were used as data sources. Included studies reported original data for infants aged ≤90 days with UTIs, studied short IV antibiotic durations (≤7 days), and described at least 1 treatment outcome. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guideline was followed. Studies were screened by 2 investigators, and bias was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies with 16 615 young infants were included. The largest 2 studies on bacteremic UTI found no difference in the rates of 30-day recurrence between those treated with ≤7 vs >7 days of IV antibiotics. For nonbacteremic UTI, there was no significant difference in the adjusted 30-day recurrence between those receiving ≤3 vs >3 days of IV antibiotics in the largest 2 studies identified. Three studies of infants aged ≥30 days used oral antibiotics alone and reported good outcomes, although only 85 infants were ≤90 days old.

CONCLUSIONS

Shorter IV antibiotic courses of ≤7 days and ≤3 days with early switch to oral antibiotics should be considered in infants aged ≤90 days with bacteremic and nonbacteremic UTI, respectively, after excluding meningitis. Further studies of treatment with oral antibiotics alone are needed in this age group.

Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation Against Renal Parenchymal Scarring in Children with Acute Pyelonephritis: Results of a Pilot Clinical Trial

AIM

This trial aimed to determine if supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids as an adjunct therapy to antibiotic treatment can have protective effects against renal scar formation after acute pyelonephritis (APN) in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND

Current evidence points out that besides antibiotic treatment, early administration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds may be effective in reducing the occurrence of renal damage following APN in children.

OBJECTIVE

The main endpoint of the trial was the comparison of the development of renal scarring formation after APN in an omega-3 fatty acids-treated group and in a control-treated group.

METHODS

This prospective randomized, controlled trial study was conducted from March 2016 to May 2018 on 60 children with a diagnosis APN in a tertiary hospital in Iran. After the diagnosis of APN based on the clinical signs and symptoms, urine analysis, urine culture, and dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan (DMSA scan), the patients were randomly allocated into either the control group (n=30 patients: received standard antibiotic treatment only) or the intervention group (n=30 patients: received standard antibiotic-treatment in combination with oral omega-3 fatty acids based on the children's weight for three consecutive days). A second DMSA scan was performed for the patients at a minimum of six months after treatment. The development of renal scars was evaluated by comparing the baseline DMSA scan lesions with the follow-up DMSA scan lesions.

RESULTS

Fifty patients, including 26 and 24 individuals in the control and intervention groups, respectively, completed the entire course of the study. Renal parenchymal involvement based on the baseline DMSA scan was similar in the two groups (p-value =0.85, 0.90, and 0.53 regarding the right, left, and both kidney units together, respectively). Although comparison of the follow-up DMSA scan lesions to the baseline DMSA scan lesions considering the right and left kidneys as separate units between two groups did not reach the significant level, when considering both left and right kidney units together, results showed a statistically significant difference between groups in favor of the intervention group (p-value =0.04).

CONCLUSION

Although preliminary, the results of this study showed that administration of omega-3 fatty acids, a natural supplement with well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as an adjunct therapy to standard antibiotic treatment might significantly reduce the incidence of the occurrence renal scarring following APN in children. Confirmation of these results requires further studies.

Extravesical vs. intravesical ureteric reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study aims to compare the outcomes of extravesical (EVUR) and intravesical (IVUR) ureteric reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) via systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Literature review from Medline, Embase, and Cochrane since inception to March 2022 was performed. Meta-analysis was conducted on eligible randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational cohort studies (OCS) comparing outcomes between EVUR and IVUR.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included, comprising 577 patients (778 ureters) operated by EVUR and 395 patients (635 ureters) by IVUR. Pre-operative VUR grade, postoperative VUR persistence and hydronephrosis was not statistically significant. EVUR had shorter operative time [mean differences (MD) -22.91 min; 95% confidence interval (CI), -44.53 to -1.30, P = 0.04] and hospital stay (MD -2.09 days; 95% CI, -2.82 to -1.36, P < 0.00001) compared to IVUR. Bilateral EVUR had higher risk of postoperative acute urinary retention (ARU) (8.1%) compared to bilateral IVUR (1.7%) (OR = 4.40; 95% CI, 1.33-14.58, P = 0.02). No patient undergoing unilateral EVUR or IVUR experienced ARU.

CONCLUSION

Both EVUR and IVUR are equally effective in correcting primary VUR. Operative time and hospital stay are shorter after EVUR compared to IVUR. However, bilateral EVUR is associated with higher risk of postoperative ARU.

Egyptian pediatric clinical practice guidelines for urinary tract infections in infants and children (evidence based)

Background

National evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, imaging, and follow-up in urinary tract infection are crucial being a major health problem in pediatrics. Every region should follow international recommendations with respect to the disease local profile and available facilities for that area.

Methods

Based on AGREE II (the assessment tool of practice guidelines), Egyptian CGLs used *American Academy Pediatrics, *European Association Urology, European Society Pediatric Urology, and *Asian Association Urinary tract infections as its evidence-based references. Health questions were listed for evidence base answers adopted from selected CGLs after their permission. Key statements were approved by all members and further approved by the Egyptian Pediatric Guidelines Committee after local and international external peer reviewing.

Results

(1) Diagnosis recommendations: Urine culture with diagnostic colony counts is essential for diagnosis. Catheter samples are important for critical cases and non-toilet-trained cases especially when they show significant bacteriuria and pyuria. (2) Treatment plan included areas of debate as choice of antibiotic, oral versus intravenous, duration, antibiotic prophylaxis considering age, disease severity, recurrence, + risk factors, and imaging reports. (3) Imaging recommendations were tailored to suit our community. Renal bladder ultrasound is important for children with febrile UTI, due to the high prevalence of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, paucity of prenatal ultrasound, and lack of medical documentation to reflect previously diagnosed UTI or US reports. We recommend renal isotopic scan and voiding cystography for serious presentation, high-risk factors, recurrence, and abnormal US. (4) Urological consultation is recommended: in urosepsis or obstruction, male infants < 6 months. Acute basal DMSA is recommended in congenital renal hypodysplasia. Six months post-infection, US and DMSA are recommended in severe pyelonephritis and vesico-ureteric reflux, where those with abnormal US or DMSA or both should have voiding cystography. (5) Follow-up recommendations include family orientation with hazards of noncompliance and monitoring at pregnancy.

Conclusion

Diagnosis and treatment show strong recommendations. Imaging depends on patient assessment. Referral to a pediatric nephrologist and urologist in complicated cases is crucial. Follow-up after the age of 16 years in adult clinics is important.

Analysis of Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection Treatment in Pediatric Patients Requiring Hospitalization: Opportunity for Use of Narrower Spectrum Antibiotics

Background: The most narrow-spectrum antibiotic possible should be used for empiric and definitive treatment of pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs). Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine an appropriate narrow-spectrum antibiotic for empiric UTI treatment, factors differentiating empiric first-generation cephalosporin (FGC) versus third-generation cephalosporin (TGC) coverage, and factors associated with unnecessarily broad-spectrum definitive antibiotic treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of children admitted from 2013 to 2015 who were diagnosed with a UTI and received treatment. Multivariable logistic regression assessed independent factors associated with our outcomes. Results: Of 568 diagnosed UTIs, 88.6% received empiric TGC treatment. Empiric coverage among cultured organisms was only 5.4% lower in FGC versus TGC. Adolescent age group (odds ratio [OR] = 8.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47-53.11), uncircumcised males (OR = 4.52, 95% CI = 1.27-16.08), Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 4.37, 95% CI = 1.14-16.82), and hospitalization within the preceding 3 months (OR = 4.73, 95% CI = 1.38-16.23) were associated with FGC nonsusceptibility among TGC susceptible Enterobacteriaceae pathogens. De-escalation occurred in 55.8% of diagnosed UTIs eligible for de-escalation at discharge. Urine white blood cell (WBC) count >5 (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.14-7.21), serum WBC count (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.07), and having only one narrow-spectrum treatment option (OR = 5.1, 95% CI = 2.43-10.66) were associated with unnecessarily broad-spectrum definitive treatment. Conclusion and Relevance: FGC would be an appropriate narrow-spectrum empiric agent for UTIs at our institution. The factors associated with FGC nonsusceptibility can further stratify empiric treatment decisions. The factors associated with unnecessarily broad-spectrum definitive treatment illustrate areas for educational efforts and future research regarding UTI treatment.

Association between vesicoureteral reflux, urinary tract infection and antibiotics exposure in infancy and risk of childhood asthma

Background

The use of antibiotics for treating infection in childhood and their association with increased risk of asthma remain controversial. Infants diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) belong to a unique population who are administered antibiotics for a long time and are susceptible to recurrent UTI. It is interesting to study the risk of asthma in these infants with or without VUR.

Methods

Taiwanese children born between 2000 and 2007 were enrolled in population-based birth cohort study. Participants diagnosed with VUR and UTI within first year were classified into four groups (VUR, UTI, VUR and UTI, and control). We calculated follow-up person-years for each participant from the index date until the asthma diagnosis, their withdrawal from the insurance system (because of death or loss to follow-up), or till the end of 2008. The risk of asthma was compared between the 4 cohorts by using Cox proportional hazards model analysis, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

Children diagnosed with VUR (n  =  350), UTI (n  =  15542), VUR and UTI (n  =  1696), and randomly selected controls (n  =  17588) were enrolled. The overall rate of incidence of asthma was found to be 1.64-fold, 1.45-fold, and 1.17-fold higher in the UTI, VUR/UTI, and VUR cohorts than in the controls (5.60, 5.07, and 4.10 vs. 3.17 per 100 person-years), respectively. After adjusting the potential factors, the overall risk of asthma remained the highest in UTI (aHR: 1.74, 95% CI : 1.65 to 1.80) followed by VUR/UTI (aHR: 1.56, 95% CI : 1.40 to 1.75) and VUR cohorts (aHR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.62). The incidence of asthma was higher in boys than in girls.

Conclusion

The nationwide retrospective cohort study demonstrated that short-term therapeutic dose of antibiotics for UTI in infants with or without VUR has a positive correlation with the prevalence of childhood asthma. Significant risk of childhood asthma was not observed when VUR cohort was exposed to long-term low-dose of prophylactic antibiotics.

Risk factors for kidney scarring and vesicoureteral reflux in 421 children after their first acute pyelonephritis, and appraisal of international guidelines

BACKGROUND

Acute pyelonephritis (AP) is a common bacterial infection in childhood. Follow-up guidelines on these children are controversial. This study aimed to identify risk factors for kidney scarring and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Furthermore, international follow-up guidelines were used for simulation to evaluate sensitivity and specificity.

METHODS

Urinary culture-confirmed first-time AP patients (aged 0-14 years) were enrolled (n = 421) from review of patient charts. All underwent kidney ultrasound (US) and a technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan or technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine scinti-renography (MAG3) at 4-6 months of follow-up. The international guidelines used for simulation were from the National Institute of Health UK (NICE), the American Association of Paediatrics (AAP) and the Swedish Paediatric Society (SPS).

RESULTS

17.8% presented with an abnormal DMSA/MAG3 at follow-up, 7.1% were diagnosed with VUR grades III-V and 4.7% were admitted for surgery. Non-Escherichia coli infections, abnormal kidney US, elevated creatinine and delayed response to treatment (>48 h) were risk factors for abnormal DMSA findings and VUR grades III-V. NICE and SPS guidelines showed best sensitivity in diagnosing VUR grades III-V (75%) compared with AAP (56%).

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors are helpful in identifying the children in need of further investigations and minimizing invasive work-up for the rest. International guidelines on follow-up detect a varying number of children with kidney damage and/or significant VUR. Future work must focus on identifying more specific risk factors, better imaging, or specific biomarkers, to enhance sensitivity and specificity in detecting the children at high risk for developing recurrent infections and/or nephropathy.

Asian guidelines for urinary tract infection in children

The followings are the level of evidence (LE) and grade of recommendation (GR) on pediatric UTI in Asia. Classification according to the sites of infection (lower versus upper tract), the number of episode (first versus recurrent), the severity (simple versus severe), or the existence of complicating factor (uncomplicated versus complicated) is useful to differentiate children with UTI whether they are at risk of renal damage or not (LE: 2, GR: B). Diagnosis of UTI requires both urinalysis that suggests infection and positive urine culture (LE:3, GR B). For pre-toilet trained children, urine specimen for culture should be collected by urethral catheterization or suprapubic aspiration. For toilet trained children, midstream clean catch urine is reliable (LE: 3, GR: A). Urine culture is considered positive if it demonstrates growth of a single bacterium with the following colony counts: (1) any growth by suprapubic aspiration, (2) >5 × 104 CFU/ml by urethral catheterization, or (3) >105 CFU/ml by midstream clean catch (LE:3, GR: B). For children with febrile UTI, renal and bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) should be routinely performed as soon as possible (LE: 3, GR: C). RBUS should be followed up 6 months later in children with acute pyelonephritis and/or VUR (LE: 3, GR: C). Acute DMSA scan can be performed when severe acute pyelonephritis or congenital hypodysplasia is noted on RBUS or when the diagnosis of UTI is in doubt by the clinical presentation (LE: 3, GR: C). Late DMSA scan (>6 months after the febrile UTI) can be performed in children with severe acute pyelonephritis, high-grade VUR, recurrent febrile UTIs, or abnormal renal parenchyma on the follow-up RBUS (LE: 3, GR: C). Top-down or bottom-up approach for febrile UTI is suggested for the diagnosis of VUR. For top-down approach, VCUG should not be performed routinely for children after the first febrile UTI. VCUG is indicated when abnormalities are apparent on either RBUS or DMSA scan or both (LE: 2, GR: B). VCUG is also suggested after a repeat febrile UTI (LE:2, GR: B). Appropriate antibiotic should be given immediately after urine specimen for culture has been obtained (LE:2, GR: A). Initiating therapy with oral or parenteral antibiotics is equally efficacious for children (>3 months) with uncomplicated UTI (LE: 2: GR: A). The choice of empirical antibiotic agents is guided by the expected pathogen and the local resistance patterns (LE: 2, GR: A). For children with febrile UTI, the total course of antibiotic therapy should be 7-14 days (LE: 2, GR: B). Circumcision may, but not definitively, reduce the risk of febrile UTI in males and breakthrough febrile UTI in males with VUR. Circumcision should be offered to uncircumcised boys with febrile UTI and VUR in countries where circumcision is accepted by the general population (LE: 3, GR: B), while in countries where childhood circumcision is rarely performed, other measures for febrile UTI/VUR should be the preferred choice (LE: 4, GR: C). Bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) is one of the key factors of progression of renal scarring (LE: 2). Early recognition and management of BBD are important in prevention of UTI recurrence (LE:2, GR: A). Antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrent febrile UTI is indicated in children with moderate to high grade (III-V) VUR (LE: 1b, GR: A). Surgical intervention may be used to treat VUR in the setting of recurrent febrile UTI because it has been shown to decrease the incidence of recurrent pyelonephritis (LE: 2, GR: B).

Effectiveness and risks of endoscopic management compared to vesicoureteral reimplantation in patients with high-grade vesicoureteral reflux: systematic review and network meta-analysis

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic management compared to ureterovesical reimplantation in pediatric patients with high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in terms of urinary tract infection. We performed a network meta-analysis. We searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and CENTRAL. We included clinical experiments, quasi-experiments, and cohorts studies. The population was men and women between 1 month and 15 years old. Patients had primary high-grade VUR diagnosed by voiding cystourethrography. The interventions were subureteric bulking agent endoscopic injection (polytetrafluoroethylene, hyaluronic acid, collagen, Dx/Ha, and PPC) vs vesicoureteral reimplantation (Cohen, Politano-Leadbetter, Glenn-Anderson, and Lich-Gregoir), and the primary outcome was urinary infections. Nine studies accomplished the inclusion criteria (seven observational and two clinical experiments). A total of 1448 renal units underwent surgical treatments for the correction of high-grade VUR. Regarding the primary outcome, we compared Dx/Ha with Cohen, Lich-Gregoir, and PPC, finding an RD of -0.02 (95%CI -0.09 to 0.06), RD of -0.02 (95%CI -0.10 to 0.07), and an RD of -0.03 (- 0.13 to 0.07), respectively.Conclusion: Our study showed that there were no differences in UTI episodes after VUR correction in patients undergoing endoscopic management compared with vesicoureteral reimplantation. What is Known: • Primary vesicoureteral reflux is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. • The clinical practice guidelines recommend the surgical management of patients with high-grade VUR. What is New: • There were no differences in UTI episodes after VUR correction in patients undergoing endoscopic management compared with vesicoureteral reimplantation.

Is endothelial glycocalyx damage a cause of renal scarring in vesicoureteral reflux with febrile urinary tract infection?

INTRODUCTION

Endothelial glycocalyx is a luminal layer which can be damaged by inflammatory agents or pathogens. The endothelial glycocalyx damage is thought to have a role in the formation of renal scars in children who have febrile urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux. This study aimed to compare the blood levels of endothelial glycocalyx components heparan sulfate and Syndecan-1 in children with and without renal scarring due to vesicoureteral reflux-associated febrile urinary tract infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of the patients diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux without renal scarring (Group 1), patients with vesicoureteral reflux and renal scarring (Group 2), and completely healthy children (Group 3) were retrospectively reviewed. Blood levels of heparan sulfate and Syndecan-1 were measured and the results were compared.

RESULTS

The entire cohort consisted of 90 patients; there were 30 patients in each group. Mean patient age was 49.7±18.0 months. Mean serum heparan sulfate (42.90±18.90 ng/mL) and Syndecan-1 (37.59±13.77 ng/mL) levels of Group 2 were significantly higher than those of other groups. The cut-off value for heparan sulfate was 35.17 ng/mL, with a 63% sensitivity and 86% specificity. The cut-off value for Syndecan-1 was 29.99 ng/mL with a 70% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that blood levels of heparan sulfate and Syndecan-1 could be related with renal scarring in patients with vesicoureteral reflux, especially in the setting of febrile urinary tract infection. However, due to their low sensitivity, these biomarkers should be used along with clinical data.

Predictive score for vesicoureteral reflux in children with a first febrile urinary tract infection

OBJECTIVE

To develop a simple score for predicting vesicoureteral reflux after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted for a 12-year period (January 2008 to December 2019), including patients aged <72 months who underwent renal ultrasonography and voiding cystourethrography after a first febrile urinary tract infection. Patients with a history of antenatal hydronephrosis were excluded. The prediction model and score for vesicoureteral reflux were developed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 260 patients in total (median age 4 months, 172 boys), 41 (16%) had vesicoureteral reflux. The score was based on four independent risk factors, including age >6 months (odds ratio 2.71, 95% confidence interval 1.27-5.76), presence of sepsis (odds ratio 3.44, 95% confidence interval 1.31-9.04), white blood cell count ≥15 000/mm³ (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 0.88-3.8) and abnormal renal ultrasonography results (odds ratio 2.08, 95% confidence interval 1-4.31). A lower probability of vesicoureteral reflux (positive likelihood ratio = 0.66; P = 0.001) was found in the low-risk group (scores 0-2), whereas a higher probability of vesicoureteral reflux (positive likelihood ratio = 2.54; P = 0.001) was found in the high-risk group (scores 3-5). The predictive ability of the model was 70%.

CONCLUSIONS

The scores developed based on the patient characteristics and renal ultrasonography are useful in predicting presence of vesicoureteral reflux after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children and could guide clinicians' decisions to perform additional imaging studies.