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Evaluation of a screening test for detecting urinary tract infection in newborns and infants
B Lejeune1, R Baron, B Guillois
1Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, CHU Morvan, Brest, France.
Insights
This study shows AMES Multistix 8SG reagent strips are effective for screening urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants. A negative result has a high 99.4% predictive value, avoiding unnecessary urine cultures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in infants.
- Accurate and rapid diagnosis is crucial for timely treatment.
- Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming or resource-intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of AMES Multistix 8SG reagent strips for UTI screening in infants under 18 months.
- To assess the predictive values of key markers (leukocyte esterase, nitrite, protein) for UTI detection.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 243 infant urine specimens.
- Laboratory testing using AMES Multistix 8SG reagent strips read by photometer.
- Analysis of leukocyte esterase, nitrite, and protein as UTI markers.
Main Results:
- The combined screen of leukocyte esterase, nitrite, and protein yielded a high negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.4%.
- The negative predictive value for leukocyte esterase alone was 97.6%.
- Positive predictive value (PPV) for the combined test was low across all age groups.
Conclusions:
- AMES Multistix 8SG reagent strips serve as a valuable screening tool for pediatric UTIs.
- The high NPV allows for the safe exclusion of UTI in infants with negative results, potentially avoiding costly urine cultures.
- This screening method aids pediatricians in efficient UTI diagnosis in infants.
Abstract:
The results of a study of a screening test for urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants under 18 months is reported. Two hundred and forty three urine specimens were tested in the laboratory using AMES Multistix 8SG reagent strips read by photometer. The strips included three potential markers for urinary tract infection: leucocyte esterase, nitrite, and protein. The predictive value of a positive result (PPV) was low. The predictive value of negative test (NPV) when combining the screen of leucocyte esterase, nitrite, and protein was 99.4% with no difference between boys and girls. The test for leucocyte esterase had a 97.6% negative predictive value. An examination of the results by age confirms the good NPV in all age groups. Paediatricians should find Multistix 8SG strips a useful aid in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection in infants, and that costly culture of samples with negative strip tests can be avoided.