Intramuscular antibiotic treatment of urinary tract infection

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Antibiotic therapy efficacy
• Urinary tract infections (UTI) management

Background:

• Lower urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in infants and toddlers.
• Effective outpatient treatment strategies are crucial for pediatric UTI management.
• Assessing treatment outcomes in young children requires careful consideration of disease course and patient adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a five-day intramuscular antibiotic regimen for lower UTI in children.
• To observe the impact of this treatment on the disease progression in infants and toddlers.
• To determine the safety and practicality of this outpatient antibiotic approach.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 36 children (5-68 months old) with lower UTI.
• Administration of a single daily intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone or amikacin for five days.
• Urine culture analysis to identify causative pathogens and assess treatment response.

Main Results:

• Escherichia coli was the most frequent pathogen identified in urine cultures.
• Leukocytosis correlated with insufficient weight gain (p<0.05).
• Urinary tract abnormalities on ultrasonography correlated with disease recurrence (p<0.05).
• Re-infections occurred in 3 children; no correlation found with the specific therapy administered.

Conclusions:

• A five-day intramuscular antibiotic course is considered effective for treating lower UTI in children.
• This regimen is a safe and recommended treatment option, particularly for outpatients reluctant to attend follow-up visits.
• The study supports the use of intramuscular antibiotics as a viable strategy in pediatric UTI care.