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Recurrent urinary tract infections--uropathogen incidence and drug sensitivity
Małgorzata Zajaczkowska1, Zofia Zinkiewicz, Beata Bieniaś
1Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin.
Insights
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are often caused by Escherichia coli. Many children experienced reinfections, with new infections differing mainly in antibiotic sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a significant health challenge in children.
- Understanding uropathogen prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze drug sensitivity patterns of uropathogens in children with recurrent UTIs.
- To identify predisposing factors and common causative agents of recurrent UTIs in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of drug sensitivity studies from 681 urinary specimens collected between 1997 and 2001.
- Analysis of patient data for predisposing factors, including anatomical abnormalities and neurogenic bladder.
Main Results:
- Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (57.3%), followed by Proteus spp. (15.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.1%).
- Reinfections (74.7%) were more common than relapses (25.3%).
- Vesicoureteral reflux, anatomical abnormalities, and neurogenic bladder dysfunction were observed in a significant number of children.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic sensitivity profiles are critical for managing recurrent UTIs in children, as new infections often show altered sensitivity.
- Identifying underlying urological conditions like vesicoureteral reflux and neurogenic bladder is essential for comprehensive UTI management in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was the retrospective analysis of the results of the drug sensitivity studies of bacterial species cultured from 681 urinary specimens collected from 79 children (12 boys and 67 girls) aged 0-18 years with recurrent urinary tract infection in a period from 1997 to 2001. Factors predisposing to recurrent urinary tract infections and the incidences of particular uropathogens were also analyzed. Escherichia coli (57.3%), Proteus spp. (15.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.1%) were the most frequent isolated pathogens. Reinfections and relapses of urinary tract infections were observed in 74.7% and 25.3% of the children, respectively. In some children etiologic variability of particular infection episodes were observed. In the majority of the children infection episodes were caused by one or two bacterial species and new infections differed from previous ones only in drug sensitivity. In 30 children vesicoureteral reflux was detected. Other anatomical abnormalities of urinary tract were revealed in 17 children. In 18 children, neurogenic bladder dysfunction was diagnosed. Urodynamics disclosed functional abnormalities in 48/55 children.
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