Correlating the Sonographic Finding of Echogenic Debris in the Bladder Lumen With Urinalysis

Case Report: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with associated proximal tubular injury

Introduction

SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population can be associated with a multiorgan inflammatory syndrome called children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The kidneys can be affected by a broad spectrum of possible injuries, whose pathogenetic mechanisms are still unclear.Case report: We report the case of a 5-year-old boy with severe cardiac involvement in the context of MIS-C. After two weeks of hospitalization, an abdominal ultrasound showed massive bladder "debris", followed by the onset of normoglycemic glycosuria. Over time, there was a progressive increase in glycosuria, and the presence of a mat of amorphous phosphate crystals was evidenced on urinary sediment. Together with the findings of hypo-uricemia, increased urinary uric acid, and globally increased urinary amino acids, a clinical picture of kidney proximal tubular damage with secondary Fanconi-like syndrome took shape.

Discussion

This case report describes the case of a patient with MIS-C with cardiac and kidney involvement characterized by proximal tubular damage, which slowly improved but still persisted at the 8-month follow-up. The pathogenesis of the damage is unclear and probably multifactorial.

Focused Ultrasound Examination of Canine and Feline Emergency Urinary Tract Disorders

This article discusses the usefulness of ultrasound examinations in the management of the patient with an emergency urinary tract disorder. It discusses the use of previously described point-of-care ultrasound protocols such as the abdominal focused assessment with sonography for trauma, triage, and tracking protocol in the unstable azotemic patient. Point-of-care ultrasound examination can help direct investigations and expedite the diagnosis of specific causes of azotemia. The limitations of point-of-care ultrasound assessment of the kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra are also addressed, emphasizing that point-of-care ultrasound examination should complement and not replace a complete urinary tract ultrasound examination.

Significance of sonographically detected bladder debris in children less than 2 years old with febrile urinary tract infection

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between bladder debris found on renal and bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) and the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) episode in children under 2 years old.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of children aged <2 years with the first febrile UTI. We recorded bladder debris on RBUS and other findings (blood test, urinalysis, and urine culture). Other RBUS findings (renal pelvis debris, renal parenchymal change, wall thickening, and renal collecting system [RCS] dilatation) were recorded. Patients were divided into the debris (D) and non-D groups.

RESULTS

Of 128 patients (boys: girls = 81:47, mean age = 5.6 ± 4.2 months), 24 (18.8%) had bladder debris. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher in the D group (6.1 ± 4.0 vs 4.3 ± 3.5, P = .03). Twenty-one patients in the D group (87.5%) had hematuria (odds ratio = 3.706, 95% confidence interval = 1.035-13.267, P = .04). No significant differences were seen in the urine culture results between both groups. Significant associations were seen between bladder debris and other RBUS findings such as debris in renal pelvis, renal parenchymal change, and RCS wall thickening.

CONCLUSION

Bladder debris on RBUS is a common finding in children aged <2 years during the first febrile UTI. Bladder debris was related to higher CRP levels, hematuria and sonographic findings, but not to urine culture results.

Bladder debris on ultrasound in the emergency department: correlation with urinalysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the correlation between the presence of bladder debris on ultrasound and urinalysis results in the emergency department setting.

METHODS

Adult patients presenting to the emergency department with an ultrasound of the bladder and a urinalysis performed within 24 h of the ultrasound were included in this retrospective study. Two radiologists in consensus evaluated for the presence or absence of debris within the bladder. Urinalysis results were recorded including continuous variables (specific gravity and pH) and categorical variables (presence of occult blood, bilirubin, ketones, glucose, protein, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, white blood cells, and red blood cells). The presence and absence of white and red blood cells were defined as > 5 cells/high-powered field. To control the experimentwise type I error rate at 0.05, a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of 0.0042 was used to determine significant associations.

RESULTS

The presence of bladder debris was associated with the presence of urobilinogen, nitrite, and white blood cells (p = < 0.0001, 0.0005, and 0.0004, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Bladder debris in the emergency department setting correlates with urinalysis laboratory values suggesting a urinary tract infection. Therefore, the presence of bladder debris should elicit the recommendation of a urinalysis in such a setting.

Bladder debris on ultrasound as a predictor for positive urine culture in a pediatric population

INTRODUCTION

Debris within the bladder is commonly seen on ultrasound. The etiology of bladder debris is varied and the likelihood that urinary debris represents positive urine culture is under investigation. We hypothesize that bladder debris will increase the likelihood that a urine culture is positive compared to those without bladder debris.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review on children aged 0-17 years who had a voiding cystourethrogram with a catheterized urinalysis or urine culture, and who also had a renal and bladder ultrasound up to 1 week prior, the day of, or up to 2 days after their urine studies. Presence of bladder debris and debris severity was recorded. Positive urine culture was defined as a single bacterial strain ≥50,000 cfu/mL. Demographic information, including findings of reflux and hydronephrosis were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, and risk ratios were calculated for predicting positive urine culture in patients with urinary debris on ultrasound.

RESULTS

A total of 445 patients met inclusion criteria between January and December 2014. The positive urine culture rate was 20%, and the rate of bladder debris was 22%. The mean age for those with and without bladder debris was 6.6 and 5.5 years, respectively (p = 0.02). 23% of girls had bladder debris, compared to 12% of boys (p = 0.04, see results table). The sensitivity and specificity for bladder debris in detecting positive urine cultures was 52% and 86%, respectively. Forty-seven percent of those with bladder debris had positive cultures, compared with 12% of those without debris (p < 0.01). The relative risk of positive urine culture if debris is present is 3.90 (95% CI 2.73-5.55). Hydronephrosis or vesicoureteral reflux did not affect the relationship between bladder debris and positive urine cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of pediatric patients undergoing urological evaluation found to have bladder debris on ultrasound will have a positive urine culture. Debris is noted more commonly in girls and at a slightly higher age. The presence of debris is associated with a fourfold increase in detecting a positive urine culture, regardless of debris severity, hydronephrosis, or vesicoureteral reflux. Given this, it is of value to routinely document and look for the presence of any amount of bladder debris seen on ultrasound, as this finding can be used to augment clinical decision-making and warrants strong consideration for obtaining urine culture.

Bladder debris on renal and bladder ultrasound: A significant predictor of positive urine culture

BACKGROUND

Renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS) is recommended in evaluation of children after an initial, febrile urinary tract infection. Although it is not uncommon to observe debris within the bladder lumen on sonography, the significance of this finding is uncertain. Debris may be interpreted as an indication of ongoing infection, but there have been no studies to date investigating the association of bladder debris with a positive culture.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of bladder debris noted at the time of RBUS with positive urine culture results obtained from a catheterized specimen, among patients undergoing RBUS and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) on the same day.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 3995 patients who presented for same-day RBUS and VCUG. RBUS reports were reviewed for the presence of bladder debris, and analysis was limited to patients under 60 months of age with a catheterized urine specimen sent for culture at the time of the studies. Those with prior postnatal imaging or a diagnosis of prenatal hydronephrosis or other GU abnormalities were excluded. Thirty-four subjects with bladder debris on RBUS were identified and matched to 155 controls based on age, gender, circumcision status, and presence of vesicoureteral reflux. A positive urine culture was defined as ≥50,000 colony forming units per mL of at least one organism. A conditional logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between debris on RBUS and positive urine culture results.

RESULTS

In conditional logistic regression stratifying by matching age, gender, circumcision status, and presence of vesicoureteral reflux, there was a statistically significant association between bladder debris on RBUS and positive urine culture result collected on the same day during VCUG (OR 7.88, 95% CI 1.88-33.04, p = 0.0048). This corresponds to a 688% increase in odds of positive urine culture for patients with debris (Table).

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to evaluate the association between bladder debris on RBUS and positive urine culture, and it should serve as a starting point for future investigations. The study is limited in its generalizability to the sampled population; further work should evaluate the predictive value of RBUS debris among children without UTI history, with prior imaging or known genitourinary anomalies, or older children.

CONCLUSION

Among children younger than 60 months old undergoing initial imaging for history of UTI, there is a significant association between bladder debris and a positive urine culture.