Bacteriuria in patients with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Diseases
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) are significant clinical concerns.
• Bacteriuria, the presence of bacteria in urine, is a key indicator of UTIs.
• The association between gallbladder diseases and UTIs requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of bacteriuria in patients with gallbladder (GB) diseases.
• To identify common bacterial isolates in patients with concurrent GB disease and bacteriuria.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 348 patients diagnosed with various gallbladder diseases.
• Routine bacteriological cultures of midstream urine specimens were performed.
• Significant bacteriuria was defined as ≥10^5 organisms/mL in pure culture.

Main Results:

• A total of 44 patients (12.6%) exhibited significant bacteriuria (18 symptomatic, 26 asymptomatic).
• Escherichia coli was the predominant bacterial isolate.
• Other common isolates included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococci.

Conclusions:

• Urinary tract infections are a frequent comorbidity in patients with gallbladder diseases.
• The presence of bacteriuria in this cohort suggests a potential risk for pyelonephritis.
• Clinicians should consider screening for UTIs in patients presenting with gallbladder pathology.