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[Urinary tract infection in a pediatrics emergency department: frequency and clinical parameters]
Macarena Lizama C1, Matías Luco I, Cristina Reichhard T
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. mlizamca@puc.cl
Insights
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children presenting to emergency departments. Fever and urinary symptoms are key indicators, with Escherichia coli being the most frequent cause.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Urology
Context:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a significant bacterial infection in pediatric populations.
- This study focused on children consulting a Chilean pediatric emergency department (PED).
Purpose:
- To define the clinical profile and epidemiological characteristics of children diagnosed with UTI.
- To identify risk factors and common pathogens associated with pediatric UTI in an emergency setting.
Summary:
- Out of 18,302 pediatric emergency consultations, 1,173 had urine cultures performed, with 264 (21%) testing positive for UTI.
- UTI was 1.78 times more common in girls. Fever and urinary symptoms were the most frequent presentations.
- Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen (86%). Urinary symptoms and prior UTI were risk factors in children over two years old.
- Nine percent of children with UTI required hospitalization. Urinalysis is crucial for febrile infants, particularly boys under 12 months.
Impact:
- Highlights the prevalence and typical presentation of UTI in pediatric emergency care.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering UTI in febrile infants, especially males.
- Provides data on common causative agents and risk factors, aiding in diagnostic and management strategies.
Abstract:
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a frequent bacterial infection in children. The objective was to define the profile of children with UTI that consulted in a Chilean pediatric emergency department (PED). We reviewed 18302 consultants and identified 1173 patients in whom urine culture (UC) were obtained. UC was positive in 264 cases. UTI represented 1.34% from total consultants and 21% from whom UC were obtained. UTI was 1.78 times more frequent in girls. The most common clinical presentation was fever and urinary tract symptoms. In older than 2 years, urinary tract symptoms and previous UTI, was a risk factor for UTI. The most frequent organism isolated was Escherichia coli (86%). Nine percent of child with UTI were hospitalized. UTI is a frequent diagnosis in PED and is important to consider urinalysis in febrile infants, especially boys younger than 12 months.
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