Nonresponders: prolonged fever among infants with urinary tract infections

Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for management of urinary tract infection and primary vesicoureteric reflux

We present updated, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from the Indian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ISPN) for the management of urinary tract infection (UTI) and primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children. These guidelines conform to international standards; Institute of Medicine and AGREE checklists were used to ensure transparency, rigor, and thoroughness in the guideline development. In view of the robust methodology, these guidelines are applicable globally for the management of UTI and VUR. Seventeen recommendations and 18 clinical practice points have been formulated. Some of the key recommendations and practice points are as follows. Urine culture with > 104 colony forming units/mL is considered significant for the diagnosis of UTI in an infant if the clinical suspicion is strong. Urine leukocyte esterase and nitrite can be used as an alternative screening test to urine microscopy in a child with suspected UTI. Acute pyelonephritis can be treated with oral antibiotics in a non-toxic infant for 7-10 days. An acute-phase DMSA scan is not recommended in the evaluation of UTI. Micturating cystourethrography (MCU) is indicated in children with recurrent UTI, abnormal kidney ultrasound, and in patients below 2 years of age with non-E. coli UTI. Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA scan) is indicated only in children with recurrent UTI and high-grade (3-5) VUR. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated in children with a normal urinary tract after UTI. Prophylaxis is recommended to prevent UTI in children with bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) and those with high-grade VUR. In children with VUR, prophylaxis should be stopped if the child is toilet trained, free of BBD, and has not had a UTI in the last 1 year. Surgical intervention in high-grade VUR can be considered for parental preference over antibiotic prophylaxis or in children developing recurrent breakthrough febrile UTIs on antibiotic prophylaxis.

Individualised versus standard duration of antibiotic therapy in children with acute uncomplicated febrile urinary tract infection: a study protocol and statistical analysis plan for a multicentre randomised clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Febrile urinary tract infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in children. Currently, recommended antibiotic duration is 10 days. However, recent evidence suggests that 90%-95% of children with febrile urinary tract infections are afebrile and clinically improved 48-72 hours after treatment initiation. Accordingly, individualised duration of antibiotic therapy, according to the recovery time, might be more beneficial than current recommendations, but no evidence exists.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

An open-label randomised clinical trial equally randomising children aged 3 months to 12 years from eight Danish paediatric departments with uncomplicated febrile (≥38°C) urinary tract infection to either individualised or standard duration of antibiotic therapy. Children allocated to individualised duration of antibiotic therapy will terminate antibiotic therapy 3 days after clinical improvement with no fever, flank pain or dysuria. Children allocated to standard duration will receive 10 days of antibiotic therapy. Co-primary outcomes are non-inferiority for recurrent urinary tract infection or death within 28 days after the end of treatment (non-inferiority margin 7.5 percentage points) and superiority for the number of days with antibiotic therapy within 28 days after treatment initiation. Seven other outcomes will also be assessed. A total of 408 participants are needed to detect non-inferiority (one-sided alpha 2.5%; beta 80%).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee (H-21057310) and the Data Protection Agency (P-2022-68) in Denmark. Regardless of the trial's findings (whether positive, negative or inconclusive), the results will be compiled into one or more manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05301023.

Management of Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections: A Delphi Study

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infectious diseases in the pediatric population and represents a major cause of antibiotic consumption and hospitalization in children. Considering the ongoing controversies on the management of pediatric UTI and the challenges due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of agreement on UTI management in pediatric age in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, and to assess on the basis of recent studies whether there is the need to change current recommendations used by primary care pediatricians, hospital pediatricians, and pediatric surgeons in everyday clinical practice to possibly improve outcomes. This consensus provides clear and shared indications on UTI management in pediatric age, based on the most updated literature. This work represents, in our opinion, the most complete and up-to-date collection of statements on procedures to follow for pediatric UTI, in order to guide physicians in the management of the patient, standardize approaches, and avoid abuse and misuse of antibiotics. Undoubtedly, more randomized and controlled trials are needed in the pediatric population to better define the best therapeutic management in cases with antimicrobial resistance and real usefulness of long-term antibiotic prophylaxis.

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.

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.

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).

Contemporary Management of Urinary Tract Infection in Children

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in children, and girls are at a significantly higher risk, as compared to boys, except in early infancy. Most cases are caused by Escherichia coli Collection of an uncontaminated urine specimen is essential for accurate diagnosis. Oral antibiotic therapy for 7 to 10 days is adequate for uncomplicated cases that respond well to the treatment. A renal ultrasound examination is advised in all young children with first febrile UTI and in older children with recurrent UTI. Most children with first febrile UTI do not need a voiding cystourethrogram; it may be considered after the first UTI in children with abnormal renal and bladder ultrasound examination or a UTI caused by atypical pathogen, complex clinical course, or known renal scarring. Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis is used selectively in high-risk patients. Few patients diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux after a UTI need surgical correction. The most consequential long-term complication of acute pyelonephritis is renal scarring, which may increase the risk of hypertension or chronic kidney disease later in life. Treatment of acute pyelonephritis with an appropriate antibiotic within 48 hours of fever onset and prevention of recurrent UTI lowers the risk of renal scarring. Pathogens causing UTI are increasingly becoming resistant to commonly used antibiotics, and their indiscriminate use in doubtful cases of UTI must be discouraged.

Risk factors associated with serious bacterial infections among newborns with high body temperature

Introduction

Recognizing the importance of serious bacterial infections (SBIs), study aimed to identify factors associated with high body temperature in newborns.

Methods

A convenience sample of 54 newborns admitted to our hospital in Iran (March-July 2015) with rectal temperature > 38°C (100.4°F) were examined for clinical signs, blood cultures, complete blood counts, platelets, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), renal function, chest/abdominal x-rays, spinal tap, and history of maternal infections.

Results

Newborns had either fever due to infections, or hyperthermia due to dehydration and/or extreme warm environment. Bacterial infections (37%) included: sepsis (15%) (coagulase-positive or coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli), meningitis (13%), and 3.5% UTI, 3.5% pneumonia, 2% cellulitis, and 2% omphalitis. Degrees of dehydration experienced by 55.6% included 37% of cases associated with hyperthermia caused by warm clothing/environment, while in 18.6% dehydration was secondary to fever. Viral infections (11%) included upper respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, while in remaining 13% cause of high body temperature was unknown. The group with SBIs had higher chance of having history of PROM (premature rupture of membrane) (p = 0.023), positive CRP (p = 0.041), and abnormal platelets count (p = 0.021) comparing all others.

Conclusions

High body temperature in newborns needs careful evaluation to identify fever due to SBIs. In sepsis cases, antibiotics should cover prevalent bacteria including Staphylococci and Enterobacter. Dehydration was prevalent among newborns with high body temperature due to hyperthermia or secondary to infections. To avoid hyperthermia, parents should know how to clothe their newborns appropriate for environmental temperature. Newborns' SBIs associated with positive CRP, abnormal platelet count, and maternal PROM.

Urinary Tract Infection in Young Infants: Practice Patterns in Evaluation and Treatment

OBJECTIVES

No clear guidelines exist for the management of infants ≤60 days old with urinary tract infection (UTI), although this condition represents a significant percentage of serious bacterial infection in this age group. We examined patterns of UTI management in infants ≤60 days at a tertiary care children's hospital and hypothesized that younger infants would be hospitalized longer.

METHODS

We reviewed electronic health records of infants age ≤60 days with diagnostic codes of UTI or fever hospitalized from January 2013 to January 2017 with urine culture obtained and UTI diagnosis documented. Outcomes were duration of parenteral antibiotic therapy, length of stay (LOS), and hospital readmission.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-three infants met criteria. Median age at admission was 37 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 22-48). Median duration of parenteral antibiotics was 59 hours (IQR 43-114) and median LOS was 71 hours (IQR 57 127). Infants age ≤28 days, with fever duration ≥24 hours, irritability or lethargy on initial examination, and bacteremia received longer parenteral therapy and had longer LOS. In multivariate analysis, age, irritability or lethargy, and presence of bacteremia remained independently related to parenteral therapy duration and LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

In young infants with UTI, patients aged ≤28 days had longer duration of IV antibiotic therapy and LOS, independent of other clinical characteristics of their illness. The duration of parenteral therapy and LOS was relatively short, although significant variability still existed.

Pediatric Genitourinary Infections and Other Considerations

Pediatric patients pose a unique host of challenges to the emergency provider across all complaints and ages, but this is particularly notable in the genitourinary (GU) system. The pediatric GU system is different from that of the adult in its etiology of symptoms, complications, and treatments. Based on age, there are variations in the anatomy. These differences result in symptoms and diagnoses that must be managed differently. Although in many respects management is similar to GU emergency conditions in adults, there are, occasionally subtle, differences between the care of children and adults, which can greatly impact outcomes.

Fever duration during treated urinary tract infections and development of permanent renal lesions

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of the duration of fever after the initiation of treatment (FAT) of febrile urinary tract infections (UTI) on the development of permanent renal lesions based on dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy findings. To evaluate the FAT contribution to permanent renal lesion formation in relation to fever before treatment initiation (FBT), the presence of vesicourinary reflux (VUR), age and severity of infection.

METHODS

The inpatient records of 148 children (median age: 2.4 months (11 days to 24 months)) with a first episode of UTI during a 3-year period were analysed. DMSA findings, and clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 34/148 (22.97%) children had permanent renal lesions on the DMSA scan 6 months after a single episode of UTI. Twenty-three children (15.5%) had mild, 10 (6.7%) had moderate and 1 (0.6%) child had severe lesions on the DMSA. FAT prolongation >/48 hours was associated with older age (p=0.01) and increased absolute neutrophil count (p=0.042). The likelihood of lesions was significantly increased when FAT was ≥48 hours (R²=0.043, p=0.021). On multiple regression analysis, with the addition of FBT>/72 hours (0.022), the presence of VUR (p<0.001), C-reactive protein (p=0.027) and age (p=0.031), the effect of FAT on lesion development disappeared (p=0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolongation of FAT≥48 hours of febrile UTI in children <2 years significantly contributes to the development of permanent renal lesions. However, delay in treatment initiation >/72 hours, the presence of VUR, older age and infection severity seem to be more significant predictors of the development of renal lesions.

Aminoglycosides Monotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Children

We report a retrospective monocentric descriptive study performed in CHI Creteil for 20 months to describe the management and outcome of amikacin monotherapy as an alternative to third-generation cephalosporins for empiric treatment of febrile urinary tract infection (FUTI) in children. Data were analyzed for 151 children, and 90 selected cases were classified as certain or highly probable FUTI. Escherichia coli infection was found in 89 cases. In all patients, fever was resolved within 72 hours after beginning amikacin treatment. Only 5.3% of children were febrile after 48 hours. The mean amikacin treatment duration was 3.05 ± 0.13 days before oral treatment began (guided by antibiotic susceptibility testing). Amikacin monotherapy seems effective for the initial management of FUTI in children.

Approach to Pediatric Patients with UTI in the PICU

Urosepsis and UTI are common causes and comorbidities in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Risk factors for morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients include young age (< 2 years old), presence of congenital renal anomalies of the urinary tract, and immunosuppression from transplant (kidney, liver, heart, and bone marrow). Workup of urosepsis focuses on identification of renal anomalies of the urinary tract through ultrasound, X-ray cystourethrogram, urodynamic studies, and CT/MRI. Management consists of appropriate choice in antibiotics, hemodynamic instability, and prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) with particular recognition that chronic renal failure can be present in all chronically ill children, which is not limited to pediatric patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney urinary tract. This review includes a review of the workup and management of pediatric patients with UTI and urosepsis in both healthy patients and patients with known anomalies of the urinary tract.

Diagnosis and management of bacteremic urinary tract infection in infants

OBJECTIVES

To report the prevalence of bacteremia by age in a sample of infants<1 year of age with urinary tract infections (UTIs), to compare characteristics of infants with UTIs with and without bacteremia, and to describe treatment courses and 30-day outcomes in infants with UTIs with and without bacteremia.

METHODS

We used a retrospective cross-sectional design to determine the prevalence of bacteremia in infants with UTIs at our institution. A double cohort design matching for age and gender was used to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between infants with bacteremic versus nonbacteremic UTIs.

RESULTS

We identified 1379 UTIs, with blood cultures obtained in 52% of cases. The prevalence of bacteremia was 4.1% (95% confidence interval 3.1%-5.3%) for all UTIs and 8% (95% confidence interval 6.1%-10.2%) for UTIs in which blood culture was obtained. Fifty-five infants with bacteremic UTIs were compared with 110 infants with nonbacteremic UTIs. Except for minor differences in the urinalysis and serum band count, there were no significant differences in clinical presentation between the 2 groups. Bacteremic infants received longer parenteral treatment courses than nonbacteremic infants (mean 6.7 vs 2.4 days, P<.001). Treatment courses in the bacteremic group were variable and predicted by age but not severity of illness. No bacteremic infant had recurrent UTI or bacteremia with the same organism within 30 days of discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment was variable but outcomes were excellent in infants with bacteremic UTIs.

Outpatient management of young febrile infants with urinary tract infections

OBJECTIVE

Controversy exists regarding the disposition of young febrile infants who present to emergency departments (EDs) with urinary tract infections (UTIs). In a large multicenter cohort of such patients, we aimed to determine the variation in patient disposition and clinical factors independently associated with outpatient management.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a retrospective study of infants 29 to 60 days with fever (≥38.0°C), urinalysis finding, and culture-proven UTIs presenting to 20 North American EDs belonging to the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We determined independent factors associated with outpatient management.

RESULTS

Of 1764 infants with UTIs, 132 (7.5%) were discharged home from the ED. The proportion of infants managed as outpatients varied among sites (0%-20.0%). Of the 132 infants, 29 (22.0%) were subsequently hospitalized after culture results were known, including 5 patients with bacteremia. None of the 107 patients initially discharged from the ED for whom outcomes were known had adverse events (0%; 95% CI, 0%-2.7%). On multivariable regression and generalized estimated equations analyses, only clinical site, presence of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, absence of vomiting, and having fewer than 10 white blood cells per microliter on cerebrospinal fluid examination were independently associated with discharge from the ED. Clinical site was the factor most highly associated with outpatient management (odds ratio, 8.8; 95% confidence interval, 5.2-15.0).

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial practice variation regarding the disposition of febrile infants 29 to 60 days of age with UTIs. Institutional practice is the strongest predictor of outpatient management. Further evidence is needed to guide the management of non-toxic-appearing young febrile infants with UTIs.

[Comparative study of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the severity diagnosis of pyelonephritis in children]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare two biologic parameters; C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the detection of acute renal lesions assessed by DMSA scintigraphy in the urinary tract infection in child.

DESIGN

In a prospective study, serum PCT, CRP and leukocyte counts were measured for children admitted, between January and December 2010, with a first episode of febrile urinary tract infection.

RESULTS

Seventy-five children were enrolled in the study. Thirty-three patients had renal lesions (group A) and 42 had a normal DMSA scintigraphy (group B). The mean PCT level was significantly higher in group A than in group B (8.81 ng/mL versus 1.7 ng/mL, P=0.01). In this study, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, we identified that the optimal cut-off value with ideal sensitivity and specificity for PCT in detection of renal lesions was 0.76 ng/mL and for CRP, it was 70 mg/L. The sensitivity, the negative predictive value and the indice of Youden of the cut-off value of PCT were significantly higher than CRP (82% versus 70%; 84% versus 70% and 0.58 versus 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that the serum PCT level was more sensitive and specific than the CRP in the detection of renal lesions in the first urinary tract infection in child.

Pediatric urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are commonly seen in the emergency department and pose several challenges to establishing the proper diagnosis and determining management. This article reviews pediatric UTI and addresses epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and imaging, and their importance to the practicing emergency medicine provider. Accurate and timely diagnosis of pediatric UTI can prevent short-term complications, such as severe pyelonephritis or sepsis, and long-term sequelae including scarring of the kidneys, hypertension, and ultimately chronic renal insufficiency and need for transplant.

Discordant findings on dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy in children with multi-detector row computed tomography-proven acute pyelonephritis

PURPOSE

The diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is often difficult, as its clinical and biological manifestations are non-specific in children. If not treated quickly and adequately, however, APN may cause irreversible renal damage, possibly leading to hypertension and chronic renal failure. We were suspecting the diagnostic value of (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan by experiences and so compared the results of DMSA scan to those of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT).

METHODS

We retrospectively selected and analyzed 81 patients who were diagnosed as APN by MDCT during evaluation of their acute abdomen in emergency room and then received DMSA scan also for the diagnostic work-up of APN after admission. We evaluated the results of imaging studies and compared the diagnostic value of each method by age groups, <2 years (n=45) and ≥2 years (n=36).

RESULTS

Among total 81 patients with MDCT-proven APN. DMSA scan was diagnostic only in 55 children (68%), while the remaining 26 children (32%) showed false negative normal findings. These 26 patients were predominantly male with average age of 21 months and most of them, 19 (73.1%) were <2 years of age.

CONCLUSION

DMSA scan has obvious limitation compared to MDCT in depicting acute inflammatory lesions of kidney in children with APN, especially in early childhood less than 2 years of age. MDCT showed hidden lesions of APN, those were undetectable through DMSA scan in children.

Febrile infants with urinary tract infections at very low risk for adverse events and bacteremia

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence from which to derive guidelines for the management of febrile infants aged 29 to 60 days with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Most such infants are hospitalized for ≥48 hours. Our objective was to derive clinical prediction models to identify febrile infants with UTIs at very low risk of adverse events and bacteremia in a large sample of patients.

METHODS

This study was a 20-center retrospective review of infants aged 29 to 60 days with temperatures of ≥38°C and culture-proven UTIs. We defined UTI by growth of ≥50,000 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of a single pathogen or ≥10,000 CFU/mL in association with positive urinalyses. We defined adverse events as death, shock, bacterial meningitis, ICU admission need for ventilator support, or other substantial complications. We performed binary recursive partitioning analyses to derive prediction models.

RESULTS

We analyzed 1895 patients. Adverse events occurred in 51 of 1842 (2.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1%-3.6%)] and bacteremia in 123 of 1877 (6.5% [95% CI: 5.5%-7.7%]). Patients were at very low risk for adverse events if not clinically ill on emergency department (ED) examination and did not have a high-risk past medical history (prediction model sensitivity: 98.0% [95% CI: 88.2%-99.9%]). Patients were at lower risk for bacteremia if they were not clinically ill on ED examination, did not have a high-risk past medical history, had a peripheral band count of <1250 cells per μL, and had a peripheral absolute neutrophil count of ≥1500 cells per μL (sensitivity 77.2% [95% CI: 68.6%-84.1%]).

CONCLUSION

Brief hospitalization or outpatient management with close follow-up may be considered for infants with UTIs at very low risk of adverse events.

Child with acute lobar nephronia

A five-year-old girl child presented to us with a history of two weeks high grade fever treated outside with intensive antibiotic therapy for an ultrasound abdomen finding of hypoechoic lesion in the midpole of the left kidney. As fever and sonographic findings persisted, a CT abdomen was done, which showed features of lobar nephronia but reported as Wilm’s tumor. Child underwent open biopsy and the diagnosis of lobar nephronia was confirmed. Child was continued on antibiotics and fever and sonographic findings improved.

Acute lobar nephronia is associated with a high incidence of renal scarring in childhood urinary tract infections

BACKGROUND

Acute lobar nephronia (ALN) is a severe nonliquefactive inflammatory renal bacterial infection, and requires a longer duration of treatment. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate renal scarring after ALN and to examine the risk factors for renal scarring in children with ALN compared with those with acute pyelonephritis (APN).

METHODS

Patients with computed tomography-diagnosed ALN were enrolled and randomly allocated, with serial entry, to either a 2- or 3-week antibiotic treatment regimen. Age- and gender-matched APN patients served as comparators. Patients underwent dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy at least 6 months later to assess renal scarring.

RESULTS

A total of 218 children (109 ALN, 109 APN) were enrolled. The incidence of renal scarring was similar between 2- and 3-week treatment groups and was higher in ALN patients than in APN patients (89.0% vs. 34.9%, P < 0.001). Renal scarring was prone to occur in children with higher inflammatory indices and longer duration of fever before and after treatment. Multiple regression analysis on independent variables showed that only ALN was significantly associated with a higher incidence of renal scarring.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed a new finding that ALN is associated with a very high incidence of renal scarring, in comparison to APN, irrespective of the duration of antibiotic treatment.

Repeat urine cultures in children who are admitted with urinary tract infections

OBJECTIVE

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of hospitalization in the pediatric population. Hospitalization for urinary tract infections in children usually involves intravenous antibiotics, invasive methods of obtaining sterile urine specimens, and imaging studies to assess the anatomy of the urinary system. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of positive repeat urine cultures that are obtained after 2 days of antibiotics among pediatric inpatients who are admitted with diagnosed or suspected infections of the urinary tract.

METHODS

A retrospective survey was conducted of all pediatric patients (< or = 18 years of age) who were admitted to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York, with a suspected or diagnosed urinary infection from December 1998 through December 2004. Results of repeat urine cultures that were obtained after 2 days of antibiotics were abstracted from a computerized medical charts database. Nominal data analysis was used to establish the frequency of positive repeat urine cultures.

RESULTS

A total of 328 (54.8%) of 599 eligible admissions met inclusion criteria. Of these 328 admissions, only 1 (0.3%) repeat urine culture was positive after 2 days of antimicrobial therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive repeat urine cultures after 2 days of antibiotics are exceedingly rare. Elimination of mandatory "proof-of-bacteriologic-cure" benchmarks before hospital discharge is supported by this study.

First urinary tract infection in neonates, infants and young children: a comparative study

In an attempt to evaluate first urinary tract infection (UTI) in neonates and infants, we estimated retrospectively in 296 patients (62 neonates and 234 infants) clinical and laboratory findings, occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), urinary tract abnormalities and pyelonephritis. First UTI occurred more often in male than female neonates, whereas male and female infants/young children were affected at an equal rate. The pathogens isolated in urine cultures of neonates and infants did not statistically significantly differ (P>0.05); Escherichia coli predominated. Gram-negative bacteria other than E. coli affected boys more often than girls (P=0.0022). Fever was the most frequent symptom. Neonates had lower-grade fever of shorter duration than infants (P<0.05). The incidence of reflux and urinary tract abnormalities did not differ between neonates and infants, male and female neonates and infants (P>0.05). Pyelonephritis affected neonates and infants at an equal rate; it was more prevalent among female patients (P=0.038) and patients with VUR or urinary tract abnormalities other than VUR (P<0.0001). Neonates with reflux were more often affected by Gram-negative bacteria other than E. coli than were neonates without reflux (P=0.0008).

Pediatric urinary tract infections: the role of fluoroquinolones

Infections of the urinary tract (UTI) occur commonly in the pediatric population. Because of the high association of pediatric UTI with congenital structural anomalies of the urinary tract and with dysfunctional elimination syndromes, it is far more common for children to be categorized as having complicated UTI than their adult counterparts. And for children more intensive therapy is often required. Early and effective treatment of UTIs in the pediatric patient is considered essential to prevent long term morbidity and potential mortality from end stage renal disease. An oral antimicrobial is more convenient than parenteral therapy and is preferable as long as clinical efficacy and safety can be assured. Oral fluoroquinolones are an attractive alternative for the treatment of complicated UTI in children, and safety must always be a factor in considering their use in this population. Although the role of fluoroquinolones in pediatric UTI is still under investigation, the limited data available demonstrate a likelihood of efficacy and safety.

Urinary tract infection in childhood

Over the past year, research about urinary tract infections in childhood has yielded new data about methods to detect, treat, and evaluate children who develop urinary tract infection. New imaging modalities have been studied. Long term studies following children with urinary tract infection have also been published over the last year. However, major questions remain to be answered, including the underlying basis of host-pathogen interactions in the urinary tract, as well as the most effective methods for clinical diagnosis and management.