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Iron status of Libyan infants with urinary tract infection
Z el-Foghy1, F Sagher, S al-Agili
1Department of Paediatrics, Al-Kadra Teaching Hospital, Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
Insights
Iron deficiency is not a primary cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants. Lower serum iron and transferrin saturation were observed in infants with UTIs, but total iron binding capacity remained normal.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in infants.
- Iron metabolism plays a role in immune function and susceptibility to infection.
- The role of iron deficiency in infant UTIs requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between iron status and urinary tract infections in infants.
- To determine if iron deficiency is a contributing factor in the development of UTIs in this population.
Main Methods:
- Serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were measured.
- A cohort of 45 infants was studied, including 19 with confirmed UTIs and 26 healthy controls.
- Suprapubic aspiration was used for UTI confirmation.
Main Results:
- Infants with UTIs showed significantly lower mean serum iron and transferrin saturation compared to controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001).
- These differences were more pronounced when Escherichia coli was the cultured organism (P < 0.01, P < 0.02).
- Total iron binding capacity was within the normal range for all infants.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency is unlikely to be a major factor in the development of urinary tract infections in Libyan infants.
- While iron levels are altered in infants with UTIs, this does not indicate iron deficiency as a primary cause.
Abstract:
Serum iron, serum total iron binding capacity and tranferrin saturation levels were measured in 45 infants, of whom 19 had urinary tract infections confirmed by positive suprapubic aspiration. The control group comprised 26 healthy infants with negative results. Mean serum iron and transferrin saturation values were significantly lower in infants with urinary tract infection compared with the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively), especially if the cultured organism was Escherichia coli (P < 0.01, P < 0.02). Total iron binding capacity was within the normal range. We conclude that iron deficiency is not a major factor in the etiopathogenesis of urinary tract infection in Libyan infants.