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Postcircumcision urinary tract infection
H A Cohen1, M M Drucker, S Vainer
1Department of Pediatrics, Hasharon Hospital, Golda Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Insights
Ritual circumcision on the eighth day of life may increase the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) in male infants. A significant rise in UTI episodes was observed within 12 days post-circumcision in Israeli boys.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in infants.
- Ritual circumcision is a prevalent practice in many cultures, including Judaism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential association between ritual circumcision on the eighth day of life and the incidence of UTIs in male infants.
- To analyze UTI epidemiology in infants during their first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective epidemiological study of 169 children diagnosed with UTI between 1979 and 1984 in Israel.
- Analysis of UTI occurrence in relation to the timing of ritual circumcision in male infants.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in UTI episodes was observed in males within the 12 days following ritual circumcision.
- Forty-eight percent of male UTIs occurred during this 12-day period.
- The median age for UTI in males was 16 days, significantly younger than in females (seven months).
Conclusions:
- Ritual Jewish circumcision, as practiced in Israel, may be a predisposing factor for UTIs in male infants during the 12 days post-procedure.
- Further research is warranted to confirm this association and explore potential underlying mechanisms.
Abstract:
The possible association of urinary tract infection (UTI) with ritual circumcision on the eighth day of life was studied by analyzing the epidemiology of urinary tract infections during the first year of life in 169 children with UTI (56 males and 113 females) born in Israel from 1979 to 1984. Forty-eight percent of the episodes of UTI occurring in males appeared during the 12 days following circumcision, and the increased incidence during that period was highly significant. The median age of the males at the time of the UTI was 16 days, compared with seven months in females. Ritual Jewish circumcision as practiced in Israel may be a predisposing factor for UTI during the 12-day period following that procedure.